Today, The Art Alliance Austin launches its third annual Temporary Outdoor Gallery Space (TOGS 3) ideas competition. Created in partnership with Art Alliance Austin, AIA Austin, and the Austin Foundation for Architecture, TOGS is intended to challenge the boundaries of the outdoor gallery space and transform the open-air art fair experience into one that introduces the element of architecture to the public, while promoting and showcasing emerging professionals in the architecture community. Past TOGS competitions were open exclusively to architects and interior designers, but this year both professionals and students in the fields of architecture, urban design, interior design, and landscape architecture will be permitted to participate.

Registration for the TOGS 3 competition runs from today through March 26, 2010, with a submission deadline of April 5, 2010. The proposed spaces should operate like a gallery and must work within a 10-ft. by 10-ft. by 12-ft. or 10-ft. by 20-ft. by 12-ft. structure. Proposals must identify how the space will be installed, provide illustrations of how the TOGS reinvent the outdoor exhibition space, and how various art mediums can be displayed. It is encouraged that designs incorporate sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.

The jury for TOGS 3 is currently being assembled, but in the past, jurors have included Goil Amornvivat, co-founder of Tug Studio and a designer on TLC's Trading Spaces; Deborah Berke, FAIA, Pprofessor of architecture at Yale University and founder of Deborah Berke Partners Architects; Dana Friis-Hansen, executive director of the Austin Museum of Art; and Louise Harpman, Assoc. AIA, professor of architecture, the University of Texas at Austin and co-founder of Specht Harpman.

A grand prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the winning design, with second and third place earning $500 and $250, respectively. All three winners will be announced and exhibited at Art City Austin, an outdoor art fair April 24-25, 2010. Following a feasibility study, the first place winner will be invited to collaborate with a professional team to make his/her TOGS 3 prototype a reality. The prototype and jury's selection will be exhibited at Art City Austin and will be available for exhibitions internationally.

The complete Call for Entries may be found at www.artallianceaustin.org.