All the information you need is in one place...the 2026 Fine Arts Manual!

*MUSIC/SPEECH APPROVAL—Music and Speeches can be submitted for approval from January 1st - January 30th.

*January 1st - Registration opens! All judge forms, registration forms, spelling bee lists, etc. will be available on the website on this date.

*January 30th (Friday): Deadline for any music approval that is not on the pre-approved list. Please remember that for all musical performances, instrumental music needs to be approved, as well as the vocal music.  Any unpublished speech selections must be approved by this date as well. 

After this date, ONLY MUSIC ON THE APPROVED LIST OR PUBLISHED SPEECHES MAY BE USED.

*March 13, 2026 (Friday): Early Registration deadline--$40.00 per student for up to 7 categories entered. Registration forms and checks must be postmarked by this date in order to get the $10.00 discount. Registration forms must be received by email at fcaafinearts@yahoo.com.

*March 30, 2026 (Friday): Final Registration deadline--$50.00 per student for up to 7 categories entered. No additions may be added after this date.

*April 30-May 1, 2026 (Thursday & Friday): 

Fine Arts Competition in Haines City.

The nonrefundable registration fee per student is $50. 

There will be a discount of $10 per student given to schools that email their registration form and mail their check by March 13, 2026. 

PLEASE NOTE: The $50 fee is for entry in up to 7 categories. 

Cost per category over 7 will be $3.00. 

IMPORTANT CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS: 

Discounts offered for writing original speeches! Christ-honoring speeches are not easy to find, and FCAA would like to publish original speeches, skits and puppet-shows for future generations of participants. The publication would list your name and the name of your school. You would still have the right to use your work in any way you choose, but you would allow us to print it in a booklet. It is our intention to provide it free of charge to FCAA participating schools. However, there may come a time when we put a charge on this booklet.

For every approved (must be submitted and approved during approval month – January 1-30) original speech, poem, skit, or puppet show, a $5 discount will be applied to one student performing the speech (maximum discount of $30 per school, per year). Release form for use of the speech by FCAA required. 

All categories will now require only 2 judge forms per entry. Due to rising costs for schools and families, FCAA wants to keep costs low and prevent the necessity of raising entry fees for our Fine Arts competition. This year, as many other fine art competitions have done, we are reducing the number of judges to 2 judges per category with a Lead Judge over each subject (Music, Speech, Art, etc.). This reduction in number not only ensures that judges will be more qualified and selective but will also reduce printing costs and the paperwork needed for each school.

Art and photography entries will continue to count toward a participant’s 7 categories. 

(Academic testing, creative writing, and Bible Quiz Team do NOT count toward a participant’s 7 categories.) 

Because of the growth that has been seen in the number of participants, we have had to limit the number of categories for scheduling purposes. The funds raised by these fees are used to pay judges and to purchase awards.

*Important Music Changes* In the past, we have allowed large changes to be made to music to make it passable after being denied initially. Due to the large amount of back and forth, we will be limiting the process to 5 changes per song. If more than 5 changes are required, a different song should be chosen. If your song is denied approval, you may resubmit a new song choice as many times as needed during approval month.

*If a piece does NOT have a written accompaniment, it must be played SOLO. Accompaniment must match the music that has been submitted.

*Film scores will now fall under the classical music category – and every entry will need to be approved. Approval will be granted based on several different criteria: film theme and content, as well as musical styling.

The registration fee is due with the registration form. Registration fees are not transferable to other competition costs (i.e. T-shirts, etc.). Please email registration forms to fcaafinearts@yahoo.com and mail checks to the following address. 

Please make the check payable to FCAA. 

(Do NOT add the word Fine Arts in the name portion of the check, but you can place it in the memo portion.)

FCAA

c/o Mrs. Cathy Stewart  

1397 SW 18th Terrace 

Okeechobee, FL 34974

Note: The schedule below may change after registrations are received.

Thursday

9:00 a.m. Registration and drop-off of Art/Photography/Science Fair entries

9:45 a.m. Chapel

11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Music Competitions, Science Fair Interviews, Preaching,

(Cafeteria will not be open for viewing of art, photography, or science fair entries on Thursday as judges will be judging the entries.)

Friday

9:00 a.m. Devotions

10:00 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Speech Events, Art/Photography/Science Fair open for viewing, Spelling Bees, Bible Quiz Challenge

5:30 p.m. AWARDS CEREMONY

Snack Bar will be open daily. CASH ONLY

For most areas of competition, students will be divided according to those who are in grades 6th – 8th and those who are in grades 9th – 12th. 

If there is only a single entrant for a competition, the student will be judged alone or combined with a similar category. If a category is split by individual grades (such as the Science Fair) and does not have at least two students entered in each grade level then grade levels may be combined.

· The audience at any competitive event should be polite and respectful. Clapping is acceptable, but cheering, screaming, and whistling are not acceptable behaviors. 

· Boys and girls should maintain at least six inches of separation at all times.  Couples may not pair off and go to isolated areas.  

· Students may not leave the campus of the Landmark Baptist Church without being accompanied by their parents or faculty chaperones. 

· Students may not have headphones or earbuds of any kind, radios, video games, secular books or magazines. Cell phones must be turned off and concealed in book bags or purses. 

· Landmark Baptist Church has guest wifi. This should never be accessed by the students.

General Note about the Dress Code: The FCAA Fine Arts Competition is a “dress-up” affair. Students should wear their best “Sunday clothes.” The maintaining of modesty is a high priority. 

*Note: Students will not be permitted to perform if they are in violation of the dress code. Points will be deducted if they are not dressed for the occasion.

All lady contestants must wear loose-fitting clothing. Pants are not permitted.

All students and faculty sponsors must wear dresses or skirts that cover the knee when standing, sitting, and walking.

Please make sure that dresses and skirts are long enough, especially as many of the girls will be up on the platform, which makes the dresses look shorter than they are. We do not want any of our judges to feel uncomfortable because of dress code issues. Any girls that are performing sitting down must wear mid-calf or floor length dresses/skirts.

Denim material is not permitted. Slits must be pinned or sewn so the opening is at the bottom of the knee. Proper undergarments should be worn and no part should be visible.

All dresses must have sleeves and may not be low-cut (no lower than three fingers down from the hollow of the neck). Cap (partial) sleeves are not permitted. Spaghetti-strap dresses or sundresses are not permitted unless a blouse is worn underneath. 

Sheer material/see-through lace/clinging material is not permitted.

All students should wear dress shoes. Sneakers and flip flops are not permitted.

Excessive jewelry, tattoos, odd jewelry, and toe jewelry are not permitted.

All students and faculty sponsors must wear a collared shirt and a tie. Coats are not required but are encouraged. 

All shirts must be tucked in.

All students and faculty sponsors must wear long pants. Shorts are not permitted. 

A belt is required for all pants with loops. Blue jeans and low-riders are not permitted. Tight-fitting or "skinny" pants are not permitted.

All students are required to wear dress shoes. Sneakers and flip flops are not permitted.

Hair must be short and must not come over the ears or eyebrows. It must be tapered on the side and back. Sideburns may come no lower than the middle of the ear. No fad hair styles, such as dyed hair or corn rows are permitted. Students may not have facial hair. Male sponsors may have facial hair.

Male students and faculty sponsors may not wear necklaces, earrings, tattoos, or bracelets. One ring and one watch will be permitted.

Note: Students, family members, and faculty sponsors should come on the Landmark Baptist Church campus in proper attire. Each school principal is responsible for the dress of parents and friends of the students. While parents and friends are not held to the same standards as students and faculty, all parents and friends should dress conservatively. Any spectator wearing revealing clothing will be asked to leave.