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July 16, 2008

Youth Talent to be Showcased at 2008 Fair

Calling all talented Alaska youth! The Alaska State Fair invites you to show off your stuff in two youth talent contests during the 2008 Fair – the Show Us Your Skillz Opening Act Contest and the Youth Arts Contest, sponsored by Wells Fargo.

In the Show Us Your Skillz Opening Act Contest, Alaska youth ages 13 – 21 will show off their hip-hop, rap, reggae and doo-wop abilities, while competing for the chance to open for the Sean Kingston concert at the Fair!

Individual performers, duos and small bands are encouraged to create a three-minute video and upload it to the Alaska State Fair channel on YouTube at www.youtube.com. All entrants must also complete an online entry form at www.alaskastatefair.org. The deadline for entry forms and video submissions is Monday, August 11.

The top five contestants will compete live at the finals, which will be held Monday, August 25 at 5 p.m. at the Fair. The grand prize winner will take home $500 – and open for both of Sean Kingston’s concerts at the Borealis Theatre on Friday, August 29. The first place winner will receive $250 and will perform in a showcase on Friday, August 29 at 8 p.m. at the Fair’s Alyeska Pipeline Colony Stage. There will also be prizes for the second, third and fourth place winners.

In the Youth Arts Contest, Alaska youth ages 13 – 20 may compete in three categories, including speech, original song and visual art. Speech topics should focus on “My Vision of Alaska for the Next 50 Years.” Original song entries should be about “Life in Alaska,” and the visual art subject should be “Alaska – Land of Boundless Majesty.”

Entries in the speech and original song categories should be uploaded as videos to the You Tube Web site at www.youtube.com. Visual art entries should be submitted as digital pictures to contests@alaskastatefair.org. All entrants must also complete an online entry form, which will be available July 1 at www.alaskastatefair.org. The deadline for entry forms and video or photo submissions is Friday, August 15.

The top five contestants in each division will receive free Fair admission to compete in the finals on Friday, August 29 at 5 p.m. at the Fair’s Events Tent. The winners will then receive their prizes, including $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $100 for third place, and perform in a showcase at 8 p.m. at the Fair’s Alyeska Pipeline Colony Stage.

For more information, rules and entry forms for each contest, visit www.alaskastatefair.org or contact Wanda Geist Dittman, Fair Event Specialist, at 907.746.7180 or wanda@alaskastatefair.org.

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