Mailed entries should be appropriately packaged for shipping. Contestants are advised to obtain adequate insurance converge for entries during transit. A postcard will be sent to each entrant upon receipt of entry. Notification as to when they may be picked up will be sent within one week before the close of the show at Patuxent's National Wildlife Visitor Center after April 1, 2001. Artists choosing not to display their work will have their entries returned within one week following the contest.
All entries are subject to the official contest rules.
Five judges and one alternate will be selected annually. The judging will be open to the public, but the contest director may close the contest to the public if there is any sign of communication between the audience and the judges. Entries will be given randomly selected numbers so that multiple submissions by the same artist will not appear in sequence. There will be no communication among the judges during the judging of the entries. All entries will be inspected by the judges.