63rd Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts invites submissions for the 63rd Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition, a legacy program that has highlighted the talent and creativity of Arkansas students for over 60 years. The exhibition showcases artwork from kindergarten through 12th grade in a wide range of media and techniques, supporting art education and recognizing the dedication of art educators across the state.

Eligible submissions include original visual artworks completed during the 2023-2024 school year in all media, including drawing, painting, print, photograph, collage, sculpture, and craft. Two-dimensional artworks must not exceed 18 inches by 26 inches. Three-dimensional artworks may be submitted and are eligible for awards but will only be showcased in the online gallery. Artwork must be submitted by the student's public, private, or home-school educator or instructor of an extracurricular art program. Each school or instructional institution may submit one entry per grade level per art instructor. Collaborative projects are eligible and defined as artwork made by a group of students working together toward a single, completed final product.

A panel of Museum educators and faculty will select 5 works per grade, totaling 65 works for the exhibition. Awards include 1 Best in Class for each grade ($350 to the school or program), 2 Honorable Mentions for each grade ($200 to the school or program), and 1 Mid-Southern Watercolorists Best in Show Watercolor Award overall ($250 to the school or program). Due to new gallery requirements, only artworks awarded Best in Class, Honorable Mention, and Best in Show Watercolor Award will be displayed in the onsite exhibition; however, all 65 selected works will be featured in the online YAA gallery on the AMFA website. Notifications of selected artworks will be sent by March 8, 2024, with requested artworks due on-site by April 5, 2024. The Young Arkansas Artists Award Ceremony and Exhibition Reception will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024. All 2D artworks measuring 18 inches by 26 inches or less and weighing less than 50 lbs. are eligible for a traveling exhibition at Arkansas Children's Hospital, with selected artwork entering into a loan agreement with the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts for up to two years.