The Chilton County Arts Council’s first community event for 2013 will also be its first juried art show.

The Sweetheart Showcase to be held just before Valentine’s Day will consist of artists’ work submitted and selected by a juror to be displayed in the lower lobby of the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center from Feb. 10-15.

Ted Metz, a long-time instructor in the University of Montevallo’s art department, will be the juror for the showcase.

Arts Council President Elizabeth Byrd said Metz meets the requirements to serve as the showcase’s juror because he is “a credentialed artist with a background and the ability to make some discernment.”

“I think that’s what differentiates it and makes it more important for our community,” Byrd said. “It’s something to shoot for to be accepted into a juried show. That process is good to give an artist an opportunity to be subjected to the jury. It kind of lets you know where you are – a measure of artistic accomplishment.”

Metz will go through all artwork submitted for the showcase and select artwork that fits the criteria for various categories outlined on the showcase entry form and below.

At a reception Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. at the CPAC, Metz will choose and announce a first-prize winner and a second-prize winner from all artwork displayed in the showcase.

First prize is $250 and second prize is $50, both provided by the Arts Council.

“These have been goals that we’ve strived for and accomplished with the arts council – to have art competitions and offer prizes and see more than just a show,” Byrd said. “We’re not here to make money. We’re here to help artists make money if they want to do that.”

Categories as listed on the entry form are:

•Digital art – Any original work for which the original image or the manipulation of other source material was executed by the artist using a computer. Work must be in limited editions, signed and numbered on archival quality materials, and traditional photographs taken through a digital media should apply in the photography category.

•Drawing – Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil and wax crayon or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush.

•Mixed media – Works that incorporate more than one type of physical material to produce.

•Painting – Works created in oils, acrylics or watercolor.

•Photography – Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image that have been processed by that artist or under his or her direct supervision. Photographers may be required to disclose both their creative and printing processes.

•Printmaking – Printed works for which the artist’s hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as limited editions. All photogravure, photocopy and/or offset reproductions will be rejected. Printmakers may be required to disclose both their creative and printmaking processes.

Entry forms also list size limitations and rules for all work accepted for the showcase, which is open to all artists age 18 or older.

Entries must be original works, able to be hung on a wall and created within the last three years (2010 or later).

Artists whose work is selected for the show may price and sell their work.

Byrd said anyone is welcome to submit artwork and attend the reception Feb. 10.

The deadline to enter artwork is Feb. 1. Artists should send a 4-by-6 photograph of the artwork with the name of the artist clearly written on the back.

Photographs will not be returned.

Artists may submit up to four pieces for jury and will be notified by e-mail or phone no later than Feb. 7 if their work is accepted for the showcase.

Works accepted for the exhibition should be hand delivered to the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center, located on Lay Dam Road in Clanton, by appointment by calling 205-217-0217 after Feb. 7.

Works accepted for the exhibition to be shipped should be postmarked no later than Feb. 7 and shipped by carriers such as United Parcel or FedEx to 536 Thrash Road, Clanton, AL 35045.

Work received after Feb. 9 will not be part of the show.