Paint The Fair - Youth Art Contest

Our Youth "Paint The Fair" event is a judging of completed artwork created during the Van Buren County Fair. Final artwork must be presented under the grandstands between 9:00am - 4:00pm on Friday July 17th.

Participants must be 13-18 years of age and live in or near Van Buren or Henry County Iowa. Each participant can submit ONE completed piece of artwork (pencil, pen, charcoal, pastel, watercolor or oil, but not limited to) in a frame with a horizontal wire. The final piece must hang by a wire and be present at 4:00pm, otherwise it will not be accepted into the final judging. 

Each work must embrace the rules of plein air painting and be completed on the fairgrounds in the open air (with a small exception for youth artist, who are allowed to work in the studio for a small amount of time) between Monday July 13th/7am and Friday July 17th/3pm. 

1st Place: $50

2nd Place: $40

3rd Place: $30

Two Honorable Mentions: $20each

The entry fee is free for youth, but you must contact the Folk School prior to July 10th to register to compete.

319-288-0047 or register@villagesfolkschool.com

Upcoming Classes...

• Monday, Jul. 13th, 2026 and Friday, Jul. 17th, 2026 from 7:00am until 7:00pm
  Location: Van Buren County Fairgrounds - Highway 1 North • Keosauqua, IA 52565 [Map]