top of page

2nd annual S.F.A Art Awards

SFA celebrates the visual arts by distributing $5,000 in cash prizes. The 2026 judges have the discretionary privilege of selecting honorees and presenting the awards. Their decision is final.

General Info

Jury Process

SFA invited two highly respected, credentialed art professionals to participate as members of the jury. Working independently and collaboratively, jurors evaluate each application without knowing the identity of the artist. The blind jury process ensures all work receives fair, open, and respectful attention and consideration. Jurors assess an application by reviewing the digital photographs and the artist’s statement. The five digital photographs should be high quality images: four images must represent the body of work the artist intends to exhibit and one image must be a view of the artist’s booth. The booth photograph cannot feature signage, branding, symbols, or attributes that reveal the artist’s identity or trade name. Reflecting on aesthetic merit, originality, technical proficiency, and marketability, jurors review and assign scores using ZAPPlication.org. Each application receives a numerical score from each juror. The scores fall between one of the two ranges: 1-3 for lower scoring applications and 5-7 for higher scoring applications. This scoring system does not allow jurors to assign a score of 4. The scores are totaled and averaged for a final score. Jurors record scores anonymously. SFA will create a wait list by category based on jury scores. Scores and comments are confidential and are not available for review by artists.

2025 Meet & Greet: March 21st at 5:30pm
2025 Reception:
March 23th at 7:30pm
Location: 33 East Main Street, Averitt Center

Category:

MERIT AWARD

Award: $200

Category:

PEOPLE'S CHOICE

Award: $500

Category:

BEST 2-D &

BEST 3-D

Award: $750 each

Category:

BEST IN SHOW

Award: $2,000

Rules & Rewards

Reward Tiers

SFA celebrates the visual arts by distributing $5,000 in cash prizes. The 2024 judge has the discretionary privilege of selecting honorees and presenting the awards. The judge’s decisions are final.

Accepted Artwork

On every artwork submitted, you are required to include a label with this formating:

  • Title of Work   |   Artist Name

  • Date of work completion

  • Medium used

  • Contact number

Labels must be located on the back of each piece entered and written in CLEAR, non cursive writing.

Labeling & Submitting Work

We are accepting all forms of fine arts and materials except digital projects. Dimensions must be under a maximum of 7ft on all sides.

Meet The Jurors - 2026

Cyndy Epps judge 2026.jpg

Co-Juror: Cyndy Epps

Cyndy Epps holds an MFA in Studio Art from Georgia Southern University, and a BFA in Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She exhibits regularly at regionally and nationally recognized galleries and her work is part of collections around the world. Public art projects include Augusta’s Art on the Wall, Art the Box and It All Flows to the Savannah. Cyndy has led several group mural projects and classes and she currently teaches Drawing, Painting and Art Appreciation courses at Augusta University.

Co-Juror: Christina Lemon

Christina+Lemon judge 2026.jpg

Christina Lemon is an artist, educator, and metalsmith who lives in Statesboro, Georgia. Lemon received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Radford University and Master of Fine Arts in metalsmithing and jewelry design from East Carolina University. Christina Lemon is a Professor at Georgia Southern University where she has taught for 25 years, teaching all levels of jewelry design, metalsmithing, enameling, and three-dimensional design courses. She has exhibited her artwork extensively in the United States and her work has been published in numerous magazines and books including: Lapidary Journal, Lapidary Journal: Jewelry Artist, Art Jewelry Magazine, Metalsmith Magazine, Belle Armoire: Art to Wear Magazine, and books including: Art Jewelry Today, Contemporary Enameling: Art and Technique, The Art and Craft of Making Jewelry: A Complete Guide to Essential Techniques, Lark Studio Series: Earrings, and 500 Earrings.

​Lemon’s service to the metalsmithing profession includes workshops on metalsmithing techniques taught at Sawtooth Center for the Arts, Radford University, and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Awards include national NICHE AWARD finalist in the Hollowware category of metalwork and the NICHE Award winner for the enameled earring category. NICHE AWARDS recognize fine craft artists in the United States for technical ability and excellence in design. In addition, she is a recipient of the Georgia Southern University Award for Excellence in Service. A practicing artist, she has been an exhibiting member of Piedmont Craftsmen, Inc. since 2004 and most recently became an exhibiting member of the Mississippi Craft Guild. Special projects/commissions include four custom designed inaugural presidential medallion and chains for Georgia Southern University presidents: Dr. Bruce Grube, Dr. Brooks Keel, Dr. Jaimie Hebert and most recently Dr. Kyle Merrero. Lemon worked collaboratively on two of the medallion and chains with a graduate student, Maddie Shelor and another collaborator -artist Bill Higdon. Lemon was also commissioned to design and create a custom brooch given as a gift to former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright during her visit to campus as part of a guest lecturer series.

Thank You Partners!

chamberof commerce logo.webp
scvb_logo_full_color-alt-01.png
bottom of page