Breeders' Cup, Louisville Visual Art and Churchill Downs will combine to host an art competition to commemorate the 35th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs. Through the Official Breeders' Cup Artist Program, local artists in Louisville will have the opportunity to create the official artwork for the 2018 Breeders' Cup, to be held Nov. 2-3.
The competition tasks artists to develop a custom piece of artwork that encompasses the distinctive qualities of Breeders' Cup. The piece should incorporate the core visual elements of Breeders' Cup, Churchill Downs and the city of Louisville while showcasing the beauty and pageantry of the horse racing event.
“In honor of the 35th running of the Breeders' Cup and our return to iconic Churchill Downs, we wanted to engage with the local community and celebrate local artists through this new, innovative program,” said Breeders' Cup CEO and President Craig Fravel. “We look forward to seeing how artists tap into the vibrant culture and horse racing traditions of Louisville to bring the excitement of Breeders' Cup to life.”
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of esteemed creatives, horse racing professionals and public figures, including representatives of the Breeders' Cup, Louisville Visual Art and Churchill Downs, among others. The panel will determine the five finalists of the competition, who will each receive a $500 stipend and have their work displayed for public viewing during Downs After Dark at Churchill Downs June 16, 2018. Fans will then be able to support their favorite entries via onsite text messaging or online voting.
Out of the five finalists, one winner will be selected as the Official Artist of the 2018 Breeders' Cup. The winner will receive a $2,500 commission to create a second art piece centered around the lifestyle and culture of the Breeders' Cup. The final pieces of artwork will be integrated into a series of Breeders' Cup promotional materials, including the Official Program covers, hotel key cards and event posters.
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