By Mark Waller, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

This article originally appeared here

The emerging field of 3D printing will make an appearance at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week this month in a newly announced design competition. The New Orleans Museum of Art and The Idea Village, which produces the business festival, are issuing a call for artists to submit plans for expressive uses of the technology.

The application process requires participants to send photographs of their designs, dimensions of the objects to be 3D printed and statements of 150 words or less on why their items should be included to The Idea Village at alex@ideavillage.org by March 20.

After a screening process, physical works selected to participate will go on display at Gallier Hall, the main venue for Entrepreneur Week, on March 24. The entries then will undergo judging with winners named on March 27 and later displayed at the NOMA.

Tim Williamson, chief executive officer of The Idea Village, said in an announcement of the event that the goal is to combine the energies of the creative culture of New Orleans and its entrepreneurship movement to spur 3D printing activity in the city.

“As an arts city, we thrive with New Orleans’ historic creativity – including our jazz, food, parades, and architecture,” said Mel Buchanan, RosaMary Curator of Decorative Arts & Design atNOMA, in the announcement. “What happens when we build on that tradition with the new artistic modes of 2014? What form does our next creative contribution take?”