General Art Contests

THE SUNNY ART PRIZE

Prize       A total cash fund of £6,000 plus an individual exhibition in London.

Entry Fee       £25 for one artwork, up to £45 for four artworks.

Requirements       Open to artists worldwide aged 18 and over.

Closing Date       June 30, 2024

One of the most diverse art competitions in the UK, the Sunny Art Prize offers unique exposure for both emerging and established artists.

BEAUTIFUL BIZARRE ART PRIZE

Prize       Over $50,000 in cash and prizes to be won. Plus, global exposure through Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. Winners will also participate in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s group exhibition at Haven Gallery in New York later this year.

Entry Fee       $40 per entry

Requirements       Open to artists worldwide working in the representational visual arts.

Closing Date       July 17, 2024

The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, now in its 5th year, is an annual international art prize that celebrates diversity and excellence in the representational visual arts.

MADE IN CALIFORNIA COMPETITION

Prize       $750 first prize, $500 second prize.

Entry Fee       $20 per entry

Requirements       Open to artists based in California.

Closing Date       February 16, 2024

Hosted by the Brea Gallery, the Made in California Competition provides a promotional opportunity for all artists based in the state of California.

ARTISTS MAGAZINE ANNUAL ART COMPETITION

Prize       Over $29,000 in cash prizes and publication in Artists Magazine.

Entry Fee       $40 ($35 if submitted before April 3)

Requirements       Open to artists over 18 worldwide working in a traditional medium.

Closing Date       May 30, 2024

Artists Magazine’s Annual Art Competition celebrates traditional 2D artistic mediums such as painting, digital art, and much more. All winners’ works will be featured in the January/February 2025 issue of Artists Magazine.

Brain exercises to improve memory

Memory is an intellectual ability to collect, store and recall events that people have experienced in the past. Not many of us can boast of a good memory. Scientists have found a direct relationship between exercises and brain health. Here are some brain exercises to improve memory.

Studying a new language

This is a good way to enhance the ability of thinking and gathering information to the brain. You will probably find it difficult to memorize the vocabulary of a foreign language.     11     Learning a new language helps the brain work continuously and improves memory.

Focusing within 8 seconds

You should focus thinking about something to remember (anniversary for grandparents, class meeting time ···) within 8 seconds. 8 seconds seems to be a very short time. However it is the time necessary to move information from short-term memory into long-term memory of the people.     12     Therefore, you should apply and practice every day.

Positive thinking

    13     Having a comfortable life is the aim of this brain exercise to improve memory. Life and spirit are always happy to have an plentiful strength and a toughness memory. An optimistic mindset, love life will increase the work efficiency of the brain and help you avoid depression, and bring you much joy and happiness.

    14    

It’s very easy to do this exercise. You close your eyes, count the color of the letters in order in the Google name, or the name of the stores in front of your house, then you check for accuracy. You should gradually increase the difficulty of the exercises to get sharp memory. You can also do brain exercise to improve memory from: write down a bunch of words, read once and think quickly to see how many words you can remember.     15    

Being part of a community can help people feel less lonely in life. Oliver Johnson is only 7years old, but he sometimes feels lonely and abandoned.

As Oliver’s birthday drew near, his mom Katherine Johnson ______ to do something to make her son feel ______ in society. Knowing Oliver loves ______ more than toys and video games, and always wants to sit behind the wheel, Katherine shared a simple post on Facebook ______ if any truckers would give her son a ______ in their trucks for $50. She hoped just one trucker would see the post and ______ . Later, Barry, the owner of a transportation company, saw Katherine’s ______ . Unexpectedly, Barry appealed to the truckers of his company to turn up for a truck rally (集会) in honor of Oliver’s birthday. Thirty-four truckers ______ right away. However, on the big day, more than twice that number ______ . Barry was very grateful for his staff members showing a lonely child what a ______ community looks like. “When it comes to kids, these truckers will always come out,” Barry said. Oliver was ______ surprised by the truck rally, and he couldn’t have been more ______ . “We all could sense he was surrounded by happiness,” said his father, Simon Johnson. “To be perfectly honest, the big day meant more than we could have ever ______ ,” he added, “‘thank you’ just doesn’t ______ what’s happened.”

None of the truckers accepted a cent for their time or expenses. It’s an act full of ______ ! Thanks to everyone who made this happen to the special kid.