The Tree of Possibilities

Inclusive Community Programs

CIDA’s Very Special Art Festival is open to all visual artists under the age of 30, from novices to professionals. The aim of the festival is to foster inclusion opportunities for children and young adults with disabilities through creative art activities and to promote diversity and acceptance within the community. The Very Special Art Festival is held every year in Fall. Call 718-224-8197 for more information.

Art & Photography Projects

Very Special Art Festival 2020
Dreaming Together

Join us for our 5th annual ‘Very Special Art Festival’ and to celebrate the creativity in all of us!

This year, our most beloved event is going virtual due to Covid-19 with the theme of Dreaming Together. As we dream to be together again, we invite you to express your visions, dreams, and aspirations of our future together.

CIDA’s Art Festival began with the hope and vision of our members to create an opportunity for people with disabilities and diverse members of the community to become one through art. We are excited to bring everyone together virtually, especially during this pandemic when our hopes and visions are ever more important.

The Very Special Art Festival 2020 will be held in two parts: 1.) an art contest and 2.) a virtual ceremony on December 17 at 7:30 pm. We hope you will join us!

Very Special Art Contest

Art Contest Summary

1. Art Festival Timeline

Online Art Contest

• Registration Period: October 22 – November 23, 2020
• Submission Deadline: 12 pm December 1 (Tuesday), 2020
• Awardee Announcement: December 7, 2020 (Please check CIDA website)

Award Ceremony & Celebration

• Date & Time: 7:30pm December 17, 2020
• Place: Virtual Venue (Link will be sent to you)

Virtual Gallery Exhibition

• Exhibition Period: December 17, 2020 – December 17, 2021

2. How to Participate

Registration

• Art Theme: Dreaming Together
• Eligibility: Persons and children with disabilities (ANYONE above age 5), siblings and family members of persons/children with disabilities.
• Entry Fee: $10 per contestant (Ticket includes one art contest entry, a raffle ticket ($5 Value) and Gala admission ($20 value)

Submission Instruction

• Art Dimensions: Any flat media (paper or canvas) that does not exceed 12” x 18”.
• Medium: Any medium (pastel, watercolor, acrylic, pencil, crayon etc.) is acceptable.
• How to submit: After registering, you will receive an email address. Submit a photo of the art via the email.

3. Awards

Awardees

• Very Special Art Award (1st Place) and 12 other Awards (See 2019 List)
• Very Special Art Award recipient will receive $500 scholarship.

Important Things to Remember

• Submitted work must cover a given topic
• All submitted art photos will be exhibited in the Virtual Gallery
• Make sure to align the vertical and horizontal alignment correctly so that the work does not get distorted.
• Do not edit the image by using apps or programs
• Artwork must be the artist’s original work. Works that are unique to the unpublished author and do not infringe on other property rights.
• The submissions that do not follow above rule will be disqualified from the contest.