WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION SEEKING ART SUBMISSIONS FOR NEW MURAL TO BE FEATURED AT THE 2023 BMW CHAMPIONSHIP
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. (May 9, 2023) – The Western Golf Association is seeking art submissions from Chicago-area students to inspire a new mural which will be created in celebration of the 2023 BMW Championship, set to be held Aug. 15-20 at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois.
Students in kindergarten through high school can enter by submitting a copy of their original drawing, painting or digital art creation by end of day, Friday, June 9. A panel of judges will determine up to three winners, and a commissioned artist will use those submissions to create a mural in the pedestrian tunnel that connects the Olympia Fields Metra station to Olympia Fields Country Club. Tens of thousands of spectators will pass through the pathway over the duration of the tournament, which will feature the top 50 players on the PGA TOUR as they compete in the second FedExCup Playoffs event this August.
Each winning artist will receive a BMW Championship prize pack, including tickets, official championship merchandise, and a pin flag signed by Patrick Cantlay – the reigning BMW Championship winner and the first player to win the tournament in consecutive years since the FedExCup began in 2007.
The theme of the competition is “Golf in Chicago.” Judges will be interested in artwork that illustrates the feelings of joy, optimism, triumph and determination that are part of the game. Artists are also encouraged to explore iconic moments in tournament history, whether it’s Jack Nicklaus defending his title at Olympia Fields in 1968, Tiger Woods leading the crowd down the 18th fairway in 1997, Jon Rahm making a 66-foot birdie putt to win the 2020 event at Olympia Fields in a playoff, or any other thrilling snapshots from the championship’s rich history in Chicago.
Submissions can also be inspired by the themes of youth and education, with all profits from the BMW Championship benefitting the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides full tuition and housing college scholarships to youth caddies across the country. Since 2007, BMW has raised more than $44.5 million for the Program, enabling more than 3,300 young men and women to attend college. Many of these individuals are the first members of their families to attend college and would not have been able to do so without the support of the Evans Scholarship.
“This is an incredible opportunity for the talented young people of our community to show off their artistic ability while helping us celebrate the BMW Championship and the game of golf,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA senior vice president of tournaments. “This new mural will educate fans on their way to the BMW Championship and generate excitement for the event’s return to the Chicagoland area.”
Participants in the Chicago area can send their artwork electronically along with the application form via the link here, with submissions accepted until 11:59 p.m. CT on Friday, June 9.
