Vanguard Showcase

Vanguard Showcase and Eric Fischl Vanguard Award 

Guidelines 2024

Background

The Vanguard Showcase is a juried showcase of Phoenix College’s best student artwork. It is also an opportunity for student artists to practice submitting and exhibiting their artwork. Selected artwork will be exhibited in the Eric Fischl Gallery.

Eligibility and cost

If you are a current Phoenix College student, then you can submit artwork to the exhibition. Submission is free. Your artwork must have been completed within the current academic school year and never before submitted for the Vanguard Showcase. Only students without a bachelor's or higher degree in fine arts are eligible for the Eric Fischl Vanguard Award. 

Categories and awards

You can submit artwork in the following categories:

  • Two-dimensional media including drawing and painting
  • Three-dimensional media including ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and mixed-media
  • Photography including black and white, digital, color, hand-painted, and alternative and/or manipulated photographic images
  • Media arts including graphic design, illustration, web design, animation, and comic and sequential art

In addition to the Eric Fischl Vanguard Award described below, local jurors will award first, second, and third place in each category.

Eric Fischl Vanguard Award

The Eric Fischl Vanguard Award is a $2,500 best in show prize juried by artist Eric Fischl and his guest. The Eric Fischl Vanguard Award winners’ artworks are displayed in the Phoenix Art Museum’s Great Hall during the annual Fischl Lecture on Wednesday, April 10 at 5:30pm. The Eric Fischl Vanguard Award will also be presented to the Eric Fischl Vanguard Award winners at this time.

Submission, Artwork Preparations, and Drop-off instructions

  • You can register your info. and work online until April 2 at https://forms.gle/3h8Sokx8B28y9EvJ6
  • Then you must bring your artwork to the Eric Fischl Gallery, second floor of the art building, April 3-4 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. 
  • You can also fill out the necessary paperwork in the gallery when you drop off your work.
  • You can submit up to three artworks. 
  • Make sure your two-dimensional artwork and photography are completely dry, matted, and framed with secure hanging wire or hanging tab on the back of the frame. You can submit artwork on canvas board or stretched canvas without a frame if your artwork has hanging wire or a hanging tab on the back. 
  • Complete one entry form for each artwork. Entry forms can be found online or in the gallery when you drop off your artwork. Attach one copy of the form to the back of the artwork, give one copy to the gallery attendant when you deliver the work, and keep one copy for yourself. Make sure your contact information is legible and you can be reached during the day at the phone number you provide. YOU MUST keep your copy and bring it back with you when picking up your artwork. We will not release the work back to you without this paperwork, along with photo ID. 
  • If one or more of your pieces is NOT selected in the juried exhibition, you will be notified by email and kindly asked to pick up your art April 11-12 (Thursday or Friday), 10am-6pm in the gallery. 

Notification, Exhibition and artwork pick-up times

You will receive an email notification on April 8th about the status of each artwork submitted. Email notifications for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards will also be sent on April 8th. Vanguard Award winners will be notified by email and phone on April 9th.

If one or more of your pieces is NOT selected in the juried exhibition, you will be notified by email and kindly asked to pick up your art April 11-12 (Thursday or Friday), 10am-6pm in the gallery. 

Selected artwork will be exhibited in the Eric Fischl Gallery from April 15 to May 2, 2024. An opening reception will be held on Monday, April 15 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm.


After the exhibition closes, artwork will be available for pick up in the gallery, Monday-Thursday, May 6-9 from 10am-6pm. Artwork not claimed after May 10 will be disposed of or become the property of Phoenix College Art Program.

Liability and responsibility

The Eric Fischl Art Gallery will exercise care in the handling of your artwork, but the gallery does not have insurance for loss, theft, or damage of the artworks in the exhibition. If you want insurance, you must make your own arrangements for it. 

Contact 

If you have questions, Tiffany Bailey will be happy to help you! Contact her at tiffany.bailey@phoenixcollege.edu or 602-285-7283.