Hi, everyone! I've got some BIG and EXCITING news. First, some background . . . If you didn't already know, shortly after the conclusion of this year's Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™, my host show in St. Louis closed its doors, just as the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show did the year before. So, for the second year in a row, I've been working hard behind the scenes to find a new host show. I'm a firm believer that a little disruption in the status quo can often lead to new and better opportunities. And such seems to be the case this year.
After much research, many conversations, and considerable thought, I've decided to partner with the very wonderful "That Takes the Cake!” Sugar Arts Show and Cake Competition in Austin, Texas, headed by President Kyla Myers. You can read all about what brought us to this point in the official press release below, which was launched to Texas-area media today.
I am confident that this is the beginning of a new and fruitful relationship that will benefit the cookie and broader sugar arts communities not just in 2020, but for many years to come.
Registration for my competition is planned to launch on the "That Takes the Cake!” site around November 1, 2019, so please stay tuned for those details. In the meantime, please spread the word to all potential cookie competitors! ~ JMU
*** OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE ***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kyla Myers
512-698-6642
president@capitalconfectioners.com
JULIA USHER BRINGS COOKIE COMPETITION TO AUSTIN-AREA SUGAR ARTS SHOW
AUSTIN, Texas – 10/18/2019
Renowned international cookie artist Julia Usher has selected the “That Takes the Cake!” Sugar Arts Show and Cake Competition as the new home of her fabulous decorated cookie competition, Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™.
“We are overjoyed to be working with Julia - one of the greats in the industry - and so proud to be able to add her amazing competition to our show,” said Kyla Myers, President of Capital Confectioners, the local club that hosts the “That Takes the Cake!” show. “We've always wanted to attract more cookiers, so having Julia join our team will bring us not only her celebrity status but also her unique expertise into what cookiers want in a competition.”
In the past, decorated cookies have been included as a category along with several categories for various types of cake, but Usher's competition focuses on cookies in their own right, Myers said. “Julia's side of things will be tailored specifically to cookies with their own categories and expert judges within that competition, which we hope will inspire and attract the most talented and exciting cookie artists to our show.”
Usher said she selected the Austin-area show because she recognizes it as an industry leader. “Their existing competitions are well-established with robust followings, their venue is open and airy which is important for judging and for any photography or filming we do, and the show overall has an outstanding reputation across the board,” Usher said. “I believe a lot of the people who enjoyed my cookie competition at the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show will be happy to follow it to Austin now that OSSAS has closed.”
Registrations for Usher's cookie competition are expected to open on 11/01/2019 along with the classic cake categories as well. Prizes for the top entries include cash, trophies, and sponsored products, and every registered entrant gets a goody bag of sponsor products as well.
“This is going to be our biggest, most exciting year yet for sugar artists of all kinds,” Myers said.
More Information:
2020 "That Takes the Cake!" Sugar Art Show and Cake Competition
http://thattakesthecake.org
February 22 and 23, 2020
Round Rock Sports Center
2400 Chisolm Trail Road, Round Rock, TX
http://www.rrsportscenter.com/
"That Takes The Cake!" is hosted by Capital Confectioners' Cake Club, an organization dedicated to sharing, promoting, encouraging, and expanding the appreciation and practice of the arts of cake decorating, confections, and related media. More information about the club is available at www.capitalconfectioners.org.
A portion of the proceeds of "That Takes The Cake!" is used to fund scholarships for local culinary students.
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