Purchase tickets starting May 1 at nicoletce.tix.com

Celebrate one of the year’s highlights with an evening of art,dining, music, and refreshments. Meet exhibiting artists, enjoya first look at the show, and hear the judge’s talk.

Northern Arts Council and Nicolet College proudly present the 39th Northern National Art Competition. This premier annual exhibit features about 100 works selected from entries nationwide by a visiting arts professional, with cash prizes including three $1,000 Awards of Excellence.

Each year brings a new judge and perspective. This year we welcome Darrell Taylor, curator and assistant director at the Waterloo Center for the Arts in Iowa, where he oversees exhibitions, programming, and collection stewardship. Previously, he spent two decades as gallery director at the University of Northern Iowa, leading conservation initiatives and securing national grants to preserve and enhance art collections. An accomplished artist with BFA, MA, and MFA degrees in intermedia art from the University of Iowa, Taylor’s work—spanning performance, photography, drawing, and collage—has been showcased nationally and internationally. His collaborative projects include partnerships with universities in Germany and Russia, reflecting a career dedicated to creative practice and advancing the arts through education and leadership.