News/Press Releases

The Air Race Classic, the annual all-women cross-country airplane race, announces the first-of-its-kind art contest for girls ages 12 to 17. The theme of the contest is "Cross-Country Flight," a subject reflecting both the freedom and the skill involved in flying the Air Race Classic (ARC).

The young artist who best captures the theme and the spirit of the race will win a 30-minute flight with U.S. national aerobatic champion Debby Rihn-Harvey. In addition, art contest judge Kritstin Hill of the American Association of Aviation Artists will display the winning entry in her booth at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis, in July.

"The Air Race Classic is thrilled to sponsor this first-of-its-kind art contest," said ARC President Lara Gaerte. "Part of the mission of the Air Race Classic is to inspire young female aviators, and this competition is a unique opportunity to inspire young female artists as well. We hope the theme of the contest, 'Cross-Country Flight,' will spur their creativity and imagination to take flight, and perhaps inspire some of these young artists to become pilots themselves."

Submitted, original artwork must be 11 x 14, created by hand, in any indelible medium — watercolor, acrylic, oil paint, marker, felt-tip pens, soft ball-point pens, ink or crayon. Entries should not be framed or outlined with any kind of border.

Entries do not have to have a title; however, each must incorporate the Air Race Classic logo into the artwork, and there must be a clearly recognizable link to the theme of the contest.

Entries will be judged by a panel consisting of pilots and members of the American Association of Aviation Artists.

All entries to the Air Race Classic Art Contest must be postmarked by June 1, 2016. The winner will be announced June 24, 2016, the final day of the 2016 ARC.

For more official rules and certificate of authenticity, visit http://www.airraceclassic.org/youth-events.htm.

About The Air Race Classic

Air Race Classic Inc. is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with a mission of encouraging and educating current and future female pilots, increasing public awareness of general aviation, demonstrating women's roles in aviation, and preserving and promoting the tradition of pioneering women in aviation. For more information, go to airraceclassic.org. Follow Air Race Classic on Facebook. On Twitter: @2016ARC