Three upcoming opportunities for artists:

FotoDC National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest
Deadline: April 15, 2012. Entry fees apply. FotoDC, in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, is presenting the second annual Photography Contest to honor the 100-year anniversary of the gift of trees. Winners will recieve cash prizes, exposure on the popular FotoDC website, exhibition and/or projections during the FotoWeek Festival, public exhibition in Crystal City and exposure throughout the Cherry Blossom Festival March 20 – April 27. Full details on FotoDC’s website.

Something and Nothing: Activating the Void
Deadline: April 3, 2012. $25 entry fee. McLean Project for the Arts is calling for submissions to a juried exhibition of works exploring negative space and the in-between. Artists in the mid-Atlantic can submit up to four digital images of works in any medium. To download the prospectus, visit the MPA website.

Piscataway Park Paint-Out
On Saturday, June 2, in celebration of National Trails Day, the Accokeek Foundation invites artists to an all-day plein air painting event. Artists can capture on canvas the historic buildings of the National Colonial Farm, the heritage breed livestock grazing in green pastures, the flora and fauna of this picturesque site, and the inspiring views of the Potomac. Light refreshments will be available for participating artists in the Visitor Center. To sign up, visit the Accokeek Foundation website.