Competition Rules

Introduction

All of the competitions at the Baltimore Miniature Art Show (BMAS) are open format. An open format contest recognizes the work of all entrants against a set of guiding principles, allowing for awards to be distributed broadly amongst multiple artists. Artists of any skill level are encouraged to participate, and awards are issued based on merit. This format ensures that one artist’s achievement does not detract from another’s, and allows for a variety of styles and subjects to be displayed and recognized.

Competition Structure

The Painting Competition

The Painting Competition at BMAS is for miniature painters of all skill levels. This competition, regardless of Class, celebrates painting execution, impact, readability, consistency, and uniqueness. Entrants may use commercially available model kits (with or without modifications), or may use custom or 3D printed figures. All entries must be fully prepared, painted, and based by the entrant. Participants may enter either the Standard or Master Class, and may submit any number of entries in the Categories outlined below. Artists are encouraged to enter into whichever Class they choose, without any prior awards or experience in competition. All pieces from an artist must be entered into the same Class.

Classes

Standard

This class is intended for newer hobbyists, those who are in the earlier stages of their display painting journey, and those who mainly paint for tabletop who are familiar with painting basics and looking to push themselves. If you are unsure of which class to enter, BMAS recommends choosing Standard.

Master

This division is intended for experienced painters who expect their work to be judged at the highest level.

Categories

Entries for the Painting Competition at BMAS will be submitted into one of the following categories: Fantasy and Science Fiction, Historical and Contemporary, Vehicle, and Storytelling. BMAS recognizes that art cannot always be neatly defined and sometimes the lines are blurred. If you have any questions regarding the appropriate category for your entry, our intake team can assist you with selecting it at the show, or you can reach out to our team using the contact information at the end of this document. There is no limit to the number of entries an artist can submit into each category.

Fantasy and Science Fiction

This category is for entries in the realm of fantasy and science fiction subjects. Open to all scales from gaming to display, and including all manufacturers and custom sculpts to include small and large scale figures, busts, and squads.

Historical and Contemporary

This category is for entries of subjects modeled after the real world, from ancient times to modern day. Open to all scales from gaming to display, and including all manufacturers and custom sculpts to include small and large scale figures, busts, and squads.

Vehicle

This category is for all non-organic subjects, across historical to fantastical or science fiction settings. Open to all scales from gaming to display, and including all manufacturers and custom sculpts to include tanks, jetbikes, ships, gundam, etc.

Storytelling

This category is for entries with a heavy narrative focus (e.g., a duel between rivals, a squad caught in an ambush, or critters enjoying their environment). The story or message is the primary subject.

The Sculpting Competition

The Sculpting Competition at BMAS is for artists who wish to display original sculpts, including both traditional and digital sculpts, regardless of subject matter. Digital sculpts must be printed in order to be displayed and entered into the competition. Entries in this competition may not be painted, but priming in gray is encouraged. All entrants will be in a single Class for the Sculpting Competition.

The Open Competition

The Open Competition at BMAS is for fully painted entries that are either original sculpts, drastically altered commercial kits, kit-bashes, or scratch-builds. Both sculpting and painting will be weighted equally and all models will be judged in the same Class. Team entries that are a collaborative effort between a sculptor and a painter are allowed in this competition. All entries must clearly indicate the sculptor and painter in order to be accepted into the competition.

Eligibility and Entry Guidelines

• Artists must be present to submit their entries.
• Artists must purchase a full weekend pass to Baltimore Miniature Art Show in order to enter any competition.
• Artists must purchase a ticket for each submitted entry.
• For collaborations in the Open Competition, only one entrant must be present, and only one ticket for the entry is required.
• AI-generated artwork is expressly prohibited in all of the competitions. If BMAS staff or competition judges suspect the use of generative AI in any entry, the entrant may be asked to provide progress photographs or other evidence demonstrating that AI was not used. The suspected entry may be removed from display until further determination can be made.
• Large entries, exceeding 10 x 10 x 12 inches (25.5 x 25.5 x 30.5 cm), will not be accepted unless prior approval has been granted. Artists planning on submitting entries with large space requirements should contact BMAS, using the information at the end of this document, prior to the event to receive approval.
• BMAS has no interest or intent to censor art or creative expression; however, all entries are subject to withholding from display at the sole discretion of the organizers. In the event that an entry portrays gratuitous violence towards real people, graphic sexual scenes or assault, or is otherwise unsuitable for general public viewing, it will not be permitted on display. Photographs of withheld entries will not be displayed on social media announcements, in the online gallery after the event, or in other media associated with Baltimore Miniature Art Show.

Entry Drop Off

Entries may be submitted for competition beginning on Friday at the start of the show, and must be submitted by Saturday afternoon. Please review the BMAS event schedule for detailed open and close times for competition drop off each day.

Entry details, including the name of the entry, the selected class, and selected category, will be registered at the time that the entry is submitted. Our team is happy to assist any artist with choosing an appropriate competition, class, or category for their entry.

For entries that are fragile or require special care, it is the responsibility of the artist to alert BMAS staff of appropriate handling instructions at the time the entry is submitted so that we can take appropriate precaution while handling.

Once an entry has been submitted for competition, an artist may not remove or handle the piece, for any reason, until they pick up the entry after judging. See Entry Pickup for additional details on picking up entries after the competition.

Judging

All entries, in all competitions, will be evaluated by a panel of judges. Competition judges reserve the right to elevate any entries from Standard to Master class, if they believe it accurately reflects the level of the artist’s work. When an artist’s work is elevated, the class change will apply to all entries submitted by that artist, across all categories. Judges will never move an entry from Master to Standard class.

When multiple entries are submitted in a single category, the competition judges will determine the strongest singular entry from the display to be judged for possible award. In the case of the entire display being of the same caliber, judges may award the entire display. If an entire display receives an award, the artist will receive a single physical award for the group of entries.

Awards

The awards given during the BMAS award ceremony will include: open awards and “Best of” awards. Additional sponsored awards may also be given. All entries are eligible for any award. After judging has concluded, entrants will be notified if they have been selected for an award via their email provided at registration. Awards will be announced and handed out to the recipients at the awards show on Sunday. Please review the BMAS event schedule for specific timing of the awards show.

All awards will be posted online on our website, Instagram, and Facebook pages after the show. Make sure to follow BMAS on Facebook or Instagram to see the latest announcements on sponsored awards and show results.

Open Awards

Winners of an Open award will receive a bronze, silver, or gold commensurate with their achievement. Any number of winners may be awarded per competition, class, and category, but only one award will be given per entrant, per category.

“Best Of” Awards

Winners of an Open award are eligible for a “Best of” award. These “Best of” Awards are for the highest quality entry in each class, in each of the three Competitions. Best of Show will be awarded to the single highest quality entry across all Competitions. A single award will be given for each:

• Best of Standard Painting
• Best of Master Painting
• Best of Sculpting
• Best of Open
• Best of Show

Sponsored Awards

Additional awards may be presented by select sponsors of BMAS. The winners of these awards are selected by the associated sponsor and will be announced during the award show.

Entry Pickup

Entries may not be picked up before judging is complete. Artists may pick up their entries beginning on Sunday, one hour after the show has opened for the day. BMAS encourages artists to wait until after the awards ceremony to pick up entries, to allow attendees to view all works. Entries must be picked up no later than 2:00 pm on Sunday at the close of the show.

We will not release entries to any individual other than the entrant. If you need your entries to be picked up by someone else, you must declare the attendee who will pick up your entries at the time of intake. The person picking up the entry must be an attendee of BMAS and have purchased a badge, but they do not need to have any entries of their own in the competition.

Entries that are not picked up by the deadline will be considered “abandoned” by the owner. Baltimore Miniature Art Show is not responsible for storage or safekeeping of any abandoned entries at the close of the event.

Exhibition Code of Conduct

• Once entries have been submitted to the competition, they may not be touched or handled except by BMAS art staff or judging teams, until they are picked up by the artist after the competition.
• No food, beverages, or open containers are permitted in the competition display area.
• Backpacks and other large bags may not be carried into the competition display area.
• Keep a respectful distance from art works on display, and be mindful of loose clothing and accessories when moving through the competition display area.
• Photographing the entries on display is allowed, but be mindful of surroundings, and never hold cameras or other items over top of entries when taking photographs.
• Discussing the entries is encouraged, but please keep all conversations respectful and constructive.

Photography Release

By submitting an entry into the Painting Competition, the Sculpting Competition, or the Open Competition, the artist grants Baltimore Miniature Art Show permission to photograph the submitted work. Baltimore Miniature Art Show may use these photographs, in whole or in part, for any purpose, including but not limited to promotional and marketing materials, social media or website pages, print publications, or other digital or print materials, without notice or compensation to the artist.

Where reasonably possible, Baltimore Miniature Art Show will credit the artist in connection with the photographs of the entry. The artist agrees that failure to provide credit along with photographs does not constitute a breach of this release, and credit may not always be feasible for the format or context of use.

Limited Liability Release

By submitting an entry into the Painting Competition, the Sculpting Competition, or the Open Competition, the artist acknowledges that their entry will be handled, moved, and displayed by Baltimore Miniature Art Show staff and volunteers as necessary to support photographing and judging the entry, and to maintain the entry display area. Baltimore Miniature Art Show will take all reasonable care in the handling and display of all submitted entries. The artist agrees that Baltimore Miniature Art Show and its staff, volunteers, and affiliates shall not be held liable for any damage or loss of the entry while the work is in the possession of Baltimore Miniature Art Show. Artists submitting an entry to the Baltimore Miniature Art Show competitions agree to pick up their entry by the pickup deadline stated in this document. Entries that are not picked up by the deadline are considered abandoned by the artist. Baltimore Miniature Art Show is not responsible for the storage or otherwise safekeeping of any abandoned entries.

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