If you are the Fine Arts Coordinator of your Church, please sign up and let us know who you are by signing up on the form below.

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To ensure smooth registration for your group, please follow these steps:

1. Provide Your Email Address to Your Students:

• Before your students can complete their Individual Participant Registration Form, you must provide them with your email address. This is essential for communication and confirmation purposes.

2. Individual Participant Registration:

• Encourage each participating student to complete their Individual Participant Registration Form (coming soon) as soon as possible. Once they have done so, you will receive an email confirmation acknowledging their submission. Please the email spam folder if you do not receive a confirmation email. Available categories for this year can be found here so your students can begin preparing as they wait for registration to open.

3. Group Church Registration:

• Once you have collected all the necessary information from your participating students and received confirmation emails for each, proceed to fill out the Church Registration Form (coming soon) for your group. It's important to note that every student listed on the Church Registration Form must have also completed their individual Participant Registration Form.

4. Payment:

• Fine Arts Coordinators will have additional time after the Participant deadline to collect payments and compile all necessary information for your group before the Church Registration deadline (see below for deadlines). This allows for thorough organization and submission of all required materials.

For Early Registration Pricing ($75):

Participant -

• Participant Registration Form (coming soon) must be completed by March 9th. 

Fine Arts Coordinator - 

• Complete Church Registration Form (coming soon) no later than March 12th. Make sure your students complete their participant registration by Mon Mar 9th so they qualify for the Early Bird pricing.
• Pay online or postmark check no later than March 12th.

For Regular Registration Pricing ($85):

Participant -

• Participant Registration Form must be completed by March 16th.

Fine Arts Coordinator - 

• Complete Church Registration Form no later than March 19th. Make sure your students complete their participant registration by Mon Mar 16th. No late registrations are accepted.
• Pay online or postmark check no later than March 19th.

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It is your responsibility as the Church Fine Arts Coordinator to make sure early registration is done in time for your participants to receive the early pricing. If you have students who register by the Participant early registration deadline (March 9th), but you do not submit the Church Registration in time to receive this pricing (March 12th), then you will still be responsible for the Regular (not Early) Registration Pricing.  Your church may absorb this fee if necessary.

It is your responsibility to make sure your students are aware of deadlines. They will be strictly enforced.

If you have any students who will have not yet used, and will be using, their 2025 $25 Merit Award Certificate, please indicate this on the Church Registration form, and then mail the original Certificate to the ISM office postmarked no later than March 19th, 2025 (which is also the payment postmark deadline if paying by check). If the original certificate is not received, the discount will be removed and you will be responsible for the full payment.

Fine Arts is a non-refundable event as the staff and budget are structured off of each year's registrations and adjusted annually to accommodate the number of registrants. For this reason, we are not able to offer refunds for no-shows, missed performances, scheduling conflicts, etc. after registration has been closed. Considerations for exceptions prior to the registration deadline may be emailed to ilsmonline@idcag.org and will be handled case-by-case.

Participant Registrations received by March 9 qualify for Early Registration rates:

$75 PER INDIVIDUAL (INCLUDES UP TO 5 CATEGORIES & LUNCH)
$10 PER EACH ADDITIONAL CATEGORY (6+ CATEGORIES)
$25 PER INDIVIDUAL IN A YOUTH CHOIR ONLY (INCLUDES LUNCH)
‍OPTIONAL T-SHIRT: $20 (Onsite cost will be $25)
$10 DISCOUNT FOR IL CREDENTIALED PASTOR’S KIDS (NOT APPLICABLE TO CHOIR-ONLY REGISTRATIONS)

Important Notes:

• Only one entry per category allowed.
• Participants may enter up to 5 scheduled (performance) categories. Non-performance categories, such as writing or art, remain unlimited, with one entry per category allowed.
• To qualify for early registration rates, the Church Registration must also be submitted by the Coordinator no later than March 12.
• If a student will not be attending the Festival in person but is submitting Non-Performance categories only (such as Art or Writing) through another individual, they will be charged a discounted $60 Early Bird rate. Standard category limits apply: up to 5 categories total, with each additional category priced at $10.

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Participant Registrations received between March 10 - March 16 qualify for Regular Registration rates:

$85 PER INDIVIDUAL (INCLUDES UP TO 5 CATEGORIES & LUNCH)
$10 PER EACH ADDITIONAL CATEGORY (6+ CATEGORIES)
$35 PER INDIVIDUAL IN A YOUTH CHOIR ONLY (INCLUDES LUNCH)
‍OPTIONAL T-SHIRT: $20 (Onsite cost will be $25)
$10 DISCOUNT FOR IL CREDENTIALED PASTOR’S KIDS (NOT APPLICABLE TO CHOIR-ONLY REGISTRATIONS)

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Important Notes:

• Only one entry per category allowed.
• Participants may enter up to 5 scheduled (performance) categories. Non-performance categories, such as writing or art, remain unlimited, with one entry per category allowed.
• The Church Registration must be submitted by the Coordinator no later than March 19. No late registrations are accepted.
• If a student will not be attending the Festival in person but is submitting Non-Performance categories only (such as Art or Writing) sent to Festival through another individual, they will be charged a discounted ($60 Early Bird or $70 Regular) rate. Standard category limits apply: up to 5 categories total, with each additional category priced at $10.

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Fine Arts is a non-refundable event as the staff and budget are structured off of each year's registrations and adjusted annually to accommodate the number of registrants. For this reason, we are not able to offer refunds for no-shows, missed performances, scheduling conflicts, etc. after registration has been closed. Considerations for exceptions prior to the registration deadline may be emailed to ilsmonline@idcag.org and will be handled case-by-case.

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2026 Illinois District Fine Arts Festival

New for 2026: Lodging, Meals, and Non-Participant Information

Location: Lake Williamson Christian Center, Carlinville, IL
Festival Date: April 18, 2026

For the 2026 Illinois District Fine Arts Festival, lodging, meals, and non-participant attendance will be handled through a separate booking process, distinct from student Fine Arts registration.

The information below is provided to help Coordinators plan ahead and budget appropriately. A Lodging and Meal Booking Form will be released soon.

1. Important Planning Guidelines

• Lodging availability is limited. There are a limited number of rooms available for Friday night lodging and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis once booking opens.
• Participant lunches are already included. A Saturday lunch ticket is included with every standard and choir-only participant registration and should not be ordered separately.

2. Friday Night Lodging

Friday, April 17, 2026

Friday night onsite lodging is optional and includes Saturday morning breakfast for all overnight guests.

Pricing Structure:

• $107.00 per room
• Plus $10.00 per person staying in the room

Room configurations available:

• 2 Full Beds and 1 Bunk
• 1 Queen Bed and 2 Bunks

When booking opens, churches will be asked to indicate (if applicable):

• Number of rooms needed
• Room type preference
• Number of people staying in each room

3. Saturday Meal Options

Meal availability and pricing vary based on arrival time and participant status.

4. Non-Participant Attendance

Any parents, siblings, or guests attending the festival who are not registered as Fine Arts participants will be considered non-participants.

5. Lodging Overview

Onsite lodging at Lake Williamson is limited and includes breakfast for overnight guests.

• Lodging and additional meals will be handled through a separate Lodging and Meal Booking Form
• Room pricing is $107.00 per night plus $10.00 per person
• Breakfast is included for all overnight guests
• All lodging requests will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis once booking opens

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For questions, contact the Fine Arts Team at finearts@idcag.org or 217-854-4641.

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Art Division and Children's Literature Entries:

‍Entries for the Art Division and the Children's Literature category must be personally delivered by the student or an adult representative to the designated Check-in table between 8:00 am and 8:30 am on the day of the festival. Rest assured, we handle each submission with the utmost care. However, the creator of the work assumes full liability for any damage that may occur during transportation, handling, or exhibition before, during, and after the festival.

Writing Division Entries:

‍Participants in all other categories of the Writing Division will receive an upload link from the Fine Arts Team prior to the festival. The only exception to this is the Children's Literature category (as mentioned above). Submissions for Writing Division should be uploaded to the provided link no later than 2 weeks before the festival date.

Writing entries are not returned to participants (except Children’s Literature). Writing entries (except Children’s Literature) must be submitted as one PDF attachment per category (inclusive of title page, summary [Book Chapter], entry).

Promo Video & Short Film Entries:

‍Entrants for Promo Video and Short Film categories will also receive an upload link from the Fine Arts Team prior to the festival. To ensure smooth viewing on the day of the event, submissions must be uploaded to the provided link at least 2 weeks before the festival. This allows our IT department to address any potential viewing issues beforehand. Please ensure both the entry and the credit line are uploaded.

Additionally, participants or their representatives are required to bring a backup of the submission on a USB flash drive (multiple file formats encouraged). This should be enclosed in a resealable bag, with the typed credit line placed inside. This ensures that we have a contingency plan in case of any unforeseen technical difficulties.

Music Production Entries:

Entrants for Music Production categories will also receive an upload link from the Fine Arts Team prior to the festival. To ensure smooth viewing on the day of the event, submissions must be uploaded to the provided link at least 2 weeks before the festival. The complete music project must be exported as a MP3, M4A or WAV file.  Please ensure all documentation of project details are uploaded as well, including DAW used, genre, tracks, use of samples, non-participant musicians/vocalists and techniques. Participants or their representatives are still encouraged to bring a backup of the submission on a mobile device or laptop with a 3.5mm jack. This ensures that there is a contingency plan in case of any unforeseen technical difficulties.

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**TENTATIVE SCHEDULE - SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

8:00 AM CHECK-IN
8:30 AM OPENING CEREMONY
9:00 AM-12 PM PRESENTATIONS
12 PM-1 PM LUNCH BREAK
1 PM-5 PM PRESENTATIONS
5 PM - 6 PM DINNER BREAK
6:30 PM CLOSING SERVICE & AWARD CEREMONY

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* WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO SCHEDULE AS NEEDED.