Department: 121-Creative Arts | Open
Division A – Performing Arts
Division B – Filmmaking
Division C – Photography
Division D – Fine Art
Division E -- Writing & Poetry
Division F – Creative Re-use
Prizes & Awards
Best in Show - $50
Champion– $25
Reserve Champion– $10
First Place – $8
Second Place– $5
Third Place– $3
Friends of the Library Award - $50(Given to one entry under the ‘Altered Books’ class)
Premiums will be awarded provided there are three (3) or more exhibits in the class. Officials have the authority to move or place exhibits into an appropriate class. Not all classes may merit a placing.
For all exhibitors winning cumulative premium money exceeding $600.00, a completed W-9 form is required, and a check will be mailed within 60 days.
Important Facts & Dates
Age & Ability Groups
Amateur
Age 11 & under (Dept. 121A)
Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 121B)
Age 18 & older (Dept. 121C)
Persons with Disabilities Age 11 & under (Dept. 121D)
Persons with Disabilities Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 121E)
Persons with Disabilities Age 18 & older (Dept. 121F)
Professional (121G)
No age classes. Either employed or selling to qualify as a professional.
Teacher (121H)
No age classes. Employed as a teacher.
July 16 – FINAL DAY FOR ONLINE ENTRIES
Pre-registration required. Enter online by 5 p.m.Thursday, July 16 2026, using the online entry system. Parents must sign if exhibitor is under 18 years of age. Following registration, print and save your receipt for entry confirmation.
July 18-19– DELIVER EXHIBITS TO FAIRGROUNDS
Bring exhibits to the Commercial Building #13, Missoula County Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. West. Exhibits will be accepted 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday, July 18 and 11 a.m. to 6p.m., Sunday, July 19. After Sunday July 19th, exhibits may be dropped off 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fair office (Building #12). There is no guarantee exhibits dropped off after Sunday July 19 will be judged or exhibited.
AUGUST 8 – PREMIUM PAYOUT
Premiums are available for pickup 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, August 8 at the Fair Office (Bldg. #12) Premiums are also available 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday (August 10-12). Any unpaid premiums after 6 p.m., August 12 will be forfeited.
AUGUST 9-10 – EXHIBITS RELEASED
Exhibits will be available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday August 9 and Monday August 10. If exhibits are not picked up by Thursday August 13 at 6 p.m., they will be donated.
General Exhibiting Guidelines
All entries must be the artist’s own recent, original work and must not have been previously exhibited at the Western Montana Fair. Works must have been completed within the past three years.
By submitting your content to this contest, you consent to Missoula County Fairgrounds posting and/or sharing images or videos of your exhibit for promotional purposes.
Entries are limited to 25 exhibits in total across all Divisions. Entries are limited to one (1) per Class.
Officials reserve the right to reclassify entries not entered in the correct division or class, or as otherwise needed for competition. Officials have the right to exclude any content from consideration if it includes explicit content that is not family friendly.
All exhibits will receive care and protection in the surroundings, but always are subject to owners’ risk, and the Missoula County Fairgrounds nor Western Montana Fair can’t be held responsible for damage that may occur.
Space/capacity may be reached before the entry deadline and may limit the number of exhibits permitted. In this instance, exhibits will be accepted in the order the entries were received.
Division A – Performing Arts
CLASSES
Class 1: Dance Choreography – Entries cannot exceed a 5 minute segment. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 280MB. Dance choreography must be the original work of the entrant. Individually recognized moves (ex. standard ballet steps) may be used, but the composition and arrangement of moves must be original.
Class 2: Music Composition – Entries cannot exceed 5 minutes, submit as an .mp3. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload the .mp3 file. Music composition must be the original work of the entrant.
Class 3: Theater, Speech, and Comedy- Original composition. Entries cannot exceed 5 minutes, submit as a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 280MB. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload the a .mov or .mp4 file.
Class 4: Ventriloquism or Puppetry - Entries cannot exceed 5 minutes, submit as a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 280MB. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload the a .mov or .mp4 file.
Class 5: Circus, and Silk Skills- Entries cannot exceed 5 minutes, submit as a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 280MB. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload the a .mov or .mp4 file.
Class 6: Other, not listed above.
Division B – Filmmaking
GUIDELINES & REMINDERS
Entries may be any genre of film. Entries will be reviewed upon submission; entries deemed not family friendly by Fairgrounds Staff will not be displayed at the Western Montana Fair but may be judged.
CLASSES
Class 1: Vlog – Entries/excerpts not to exceed 8 minutes. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 2GB.
Class 2: Short Film – Entries/excerpts not to exceed 8 minutes. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 2GB.
Class 3: Animation
Class 4: Other, not listed above.
Division C –Photography
GUIDELINES & REMINDERS
All photos must be at least 5x7prints and cannot exceed an 9x12 print size. Photos should be matted (not poster board or cardboard). Frames or glass are not permitted. The exhibitors name should be written on the back of the mat. If the exhibitor’s name or signature appears on the front of the photograph, please cover the name for judging purposes
CLASSES - Black & White
Class 1: Abstract/Creative (Black & White)
Class 2: Animals, Bugs, and Butterflies (Black & White)
Class 3: Drone aided (Black & White)
Class 4: Macro/Close-up (Black & White)
Class 5: Panorama (Black & White)
Class 6: People and Portraits (Black & White)
Class 7: Landscape (Black & White)
Class 8: Still Life (Black & White)
Class 9: Collection of 4 (Black & White)
Class 10: Action (Black and White)
Class 11: Other Black & White Photo, not listed above
CLASSES - Color
Class 12: Abstract/Creative
Class 13: Animals, Bugs, and Butterflies
Class 14: Drone aided
Class 15: Macro/Close-up
Class 16: Panorama
Class 17: People and Portraits
Class 18: Landscape
Class 19: Still Life
Class 20: Collection of 4
Class 21: Action
Class 22: Other Color Photo, not listed above
Division D – Fine Art
GUIDELINES & REMINDERS
Original work. All pieces meant to hang must be ready to display on a hook, whether it’s on canvas, wood, matted, mounted, metal, framed, or other medium. Make sure the hanging system you choose will allow for a ¼ inch hook. No tape. Please make sure that it is secure. Plexiglass and plastic film preferred over glass if framed. Saw-tooth hangers, clip frames, and table frames will not be accepted.Glue, paint and/or varnish must be fully dry prior to exhibit drop-off.
The exhibition coordinator may refuse to exhibit paintings, drawings, etc that are too large or too heavy to safely hang using the system selected.
CLASSES
Class 1: Ceramics
Class 2: Drawing- Charcoal, Ink, and Graphite pencil
Class 3: Drawing- Colored pencil, Markers, and Pastels
Class 4: Drawing- Mixed Media
Class 5: Painting - Acrylic
Class 6: Painting - Oil
Class 7: Painting - Watercolor
Class 8: Painting - Mixed Media
Class 9: Sculpture, any medium
Class 10: Sculpture, 3-D printed
Class 11: Printmaking
Class 12: Mosaic
Class 13: Other, not listed above.
Division E – Writing & Poetry
Guidelines & Reminders
Entries must be typed, processor printed, or hand printed clearly and legibly on unlined white paper.
Exhibitors must enter two (2) copies of each exhibit: 1 for exhibit, 1 for judging.
Poetry exhibits may be a single poem or a set of multiple poems on the same subject, not to exceed an 8 ½” x 11” page.
Poetry exhibits must be matted. Your name should be written on the back of the mat.
Short stories and essays do not have to be matted. Please place two (2) copies in a folder or binder.
Classes
Class 1: Poem
Class 2: Short Story
Class 3: Essay
Class 4: Other, not listed above.
Division F – Creative Reuse
Guidelines & Reminders
Entries need to be made mostly out of old, recycled materials. Do not use hot melt glue to connect pieces.
Classes
Class 1: Altered Books – This Fair class was created in partnership with the Missoula Public Library. Stretch your creativity by giving new life to a “discarded” book. Paint, cut, sculpt your book into a 2-d or 3-d design. The Library will be awarding a special ‘Friends of the Library Choice’ award to one entry. See above under ‘Prizes and Awards’ for details.
Class 2: Make Missoula Green Poster – Design a poster educating or promoting Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.
Class 3: Cardboard Box Transformation – Rethink it – how to give an old box a new purpose. Transform it into something functional and/or beautiful. Look online for inspiration!
Class 4: Found Sound – If your reuse creation makes noise or only comes to life when someone is playing with it (toys or games), it belongs in this class.
Class 5: Lumination Station –Functional lamps or creations whose purpose is to light up - made mostly of reused materials for inside or outside the home.
Class 6: Trashion – Create the ultimate wearable fashion or accessory item made from materials designed for the dump! Plastic bags, candy wrappers, chip or dog food bags, juice pouches, dried out pens and markers, toothpaste tubes and more! Present it on your own unique display form for best viewing.
Class 7: Wood Pallet Re-Creations – Functional or fun – adding your personal touch is the main requirement. Make sure your entry is ready for display, stands independently, or is prepared to hang.
Class 8: Other, not listed above.