To lessen the unpleasant affects of the economic downturn, organizers of the Kingston Artists’ Soapbox Derby ( ASD ) have extended the 2009 ASD Stimulus Plan for 2010. To be eligible, you must create and build a soapbox entry and enter it in the 16th Annual Artists’ Soapbox Derby. We are still collecting our prize money for the Adult, Youth and Family/Group categories. Children under the age of 14 who have built their entry, without help from an adult, will be entered into the Youth category. All group and team efforts will be judged in the Family/Group category.

How can creativity be measured you ask? Each year, this subjective task is left to a different team of expert judges chosen from the Hudson Valley ’s artistic community. The fine folks at The Seven 21 Media Center, have accepted the daunting job of judging the 16th Annual Artists’ Soapbox Derby. This will be no easy task. They will be compared with previous judges: KMOCA (Kingston Museum of Contemporary Art; Woman’s Studio Workshop; Albert Shahinian Gallery of Poughkeepsie, NY; Woodstock Artist’s Association; Pritzker Gallery of Highland, NY; Arts Society of Kingston; Carrie Haddad Gallery of Hudson, NY; Art Times; and The Woodstock Guild, just to name a few.
Not to leave our spectators out, the Donskoj & Company Gallery where it all began is doing a call for entries for an Artists’ Soapbox Derby Photography Exhibit. The exhibit will be on display for the month of August at the gallery at 93 Broadway in Kingston . Prizes will be awarded for “Best of Show”.

Aside from the fame and fortune, the most popular prize in the arsenal of Artists’ Soapbox Derby awards is the Rondout Reject Award (RRA). The RRA is a trophy that features the rear end of a horse. If you aren’t confused enough already, this highly coveted award is for the lamest entry. Participants are on their own in figuring out the criteria for this one. Good luck!