AGAWAM – Libraries have become an exhibition space for up and coming, local artists. The Agawam Public Library is no exception, with a devoted gallery for art on the main level. This November the gallery will display artwork from the 11th Open Juried Art Show.

Artwork from 106 artists will be judged and vie for one of 27 awards and cash prizes totaling $1,450. There is a $300 award for Best in Show, a first-place award of $110, second place is $70, and the third-place award of $50. There are also 10 honorable mentions and an artists’ choice award.

While hundreds of people view the art as they pass through the library’s gallery, Kadis said, between 90 and 100 people will gather for the artists’ reception and awards ceremony from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 15. There will be music and light refreshments and it is free and open to the public.

“We’ve been very successful,” with past shows, said Bob Kadis of the Friends of the Agawam Public Library. “We’ve gotten a good response from the artists and the greater community.”

The art show is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Agawam Public Library, a nonprofit, organization whose mission is to support the town library by providing fundraisers, workshops and educational activities, and volunteer services.

There is a fee of $25 per entry if submitted by Oct. 26 and $30 after that. Multiple entries per category of original art are allowed. Artwork can be dropped off on Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. An entry form can be downloaded at www.agawamlibrary.org/about/friends. The art will be judged on Nov. 2 at 1:30 p.m.

The show will consist of five categories of art – acrylics, oils, watercolors, pastels, other media, which include pencil drawing, charcoals, pen and inks, block prints, collage, encaustics, fiber art.

The selection and awards jurors, Maureen Cotti and Matthew Mattingly, are independent and, Kadis said, come highly recommended by those in the local art community.

The show runs Nov. 4 through Nov. 29 at the Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper St. For more information Kadis can be reached at r.kadis@comcast.net or 789-4814.