Winning artist receives $2,500; art displayed in downtown Dallas Arts District for one year 

DALLAS - Professional artists in Texas are invited to submit original artwork for the 17th annual Catholic Foundation Art on the Plaza competition. The winning artist will receive $2,500 and their masterpiece will appear for one year on a 28 x 9-foot wall at The Catholic Foundation Plaza in the downtown Dallas Arts District. 

The deadline to enter is Thursday, Sept. 8 and submission guidelines can be found online at www.catholicfoundation.com/Support-Tools/Catholic-Foundation-Art-Competition. 

Art entries do not require a religious theme. However, they should be respectful in tone as the winning entry will be displayed on the north side of the adjacent Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe. “Public art lifts spirits and adds to the cultural personality of cities,” said Matt Kramer, president and CEO of The Catholic Foundation. “Each year, the Art on the Plaza competition produces a special showcase of art that reflects a wide range of creative interpretations from Texas artists.” 

“Public art lifts spirits and adds to the cultural personality of cities,” said Matt Kramer, president and CEO of The Catholic Foundation. “Each year, the Art on the Plaza competition produces a special showcase of art that reflects a wide range of creative interpretations from Texas artists.” 

There are no entry fees to participate. While the winning artist receives a $2,500 stipend, honorable mention winners receive a $250 award. Submissions must measure 28 inches by 9 and 2/3 inches. The winning work will be digitally reproduced to mural-size dimensions and installed on the art wall. Photography or computer-generated art are not eligible. 

A panel of judges from the Dallas-area arts community will review all entries and select the piece to be installed on the Plaza art wall. The winning artwork will be unveiled during a dedication ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 19. 

“I considered the setting and significance of the artwork,” said 2021 Art on the Plaza winning artist Heajung Jina Lee whose piece, “Be Happy” remains on display at The Catholic Foundation Plaza through mid-October. “I wanted to create a piece that would enliven the Plaza since it is surrounded by tall buildings in an urban environment.” 

Lee’s artwork expressed spirituality in public art, and she hopes people have found happiness in seeing her painting on display since last fall. Lee has loved drawing, painting and performing music since she was a young child in Korea. A certified public accountant by trade, Lee became a full-time artist after retiring as a CPA and enrolled in North Lake College to study art with a long-term goal of earning a master’s degree in fine arts. One of her professors gave the class a calendar of art competitions in which she learned about The Catholic Foundation Art on the Plaza contest. 

About The Catholic Foundation Plaza

The Catholic Foundation Plaza is a unique 3,900-square-foot public space located at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, 2215 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas. The Plaza is located at the corner of Flora and Crockett Streets, directly across from the Meyerson Symphony Hall. The Plaza is in a highly visible location for visitors to the Dallas Arts District. Dedicated in 2006, the Plaza was a gift from The Catholic Foundation to the Dallas community to commemorate the Foundation’s 50th anniversary. The wall currently displays last year’s winning artwork, “Be Happy” by Heajung Jina Lee. Smaller replicas of all past winning artwork are mounted on the wall as well.