Back to ExhibitionsFor over 60 years the Young Arkansas Artists (YAA) exhibition has highlighted and showcased the incredible work by students and educators across the state. By celebrating students, the Young Arkansas Artists exhibition promotes creative thinking and curiosity while building confidence in young artists. For art educators, the exhibition demonstrates the remarkable commitment, passion, and expertise they provide. Representing a wide range of mediums and techniques, this exhibition reflects the diversity and creativity found in Arkansas’ classrooms.
This year’s exhibition will be comprised of three works per grade, Kindergarten through 12th grade. The 39 works will be selected by a panel of museum and art professionals. A Grand Juror will also select a “Best in Class” award for each grade, along with other awards.
Submission is free and open to Arkansas Kindergarten through 12th grade students in public schools, private schools, private instruction, and those who are homeschooled. Art for this exhibition must be submitted by art educators and will be judged virtually.
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Important Dates
- December 11, 2024 – January 31, 2025 / Online Submission Window
- January 9, 2025 / Submission Q&A Zoom for Educators
- March 10, 2025 / Notification Emails to Educators
- April 11, 2025 / Selected Artworks Due to AMFA
- May 17, 2025 / Exhibition Opening & Awards Ceremony
- May 17, 2025 – August 3, 2025 / Exhibition On View at AMFA
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Why Enter?
- Be part of the longest-running statewide K-12 art competition in Arkansas.
- A highlight for student portfolios, students have the opportunity to be exhibited at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, earn awards, and build confidence through the exhibition process.
- YAA is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the incredible work and dedication of educators throughout the state and allows educators to earn award money to support their art programs.
- Students and educators will be recognized at the Museum and in an online gallery via the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts website.
- Works in the exhibition have the potential to be selected by Arkansas Children’s Hospital for display on their campus for a year (Fall 2025 - Fall 2026), furthering student art representation within the larger community.
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Recognition and Awards
Each artwork selected for the 64th Young Arkansas Artists exhibition will be awarded:
- A $250 program award for the educator’s school to support their art program.
- One $25 Blick Art Supplies online coupon awarded per artwork to encourage the student’s artistic journey.
- Exhibition certificates for the educator and student(s).
The Grand Juror will select these additional individual artwork awards:
- “Best In Class” Award – 1 per grade – Awarded students will be invited to attend one AMFA Summer Youth Studio Series class redeemable for Summer 2025 at the Windgate Art School.
- More awards to be announced!
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Eligibility Guidelines
- Artworks must be original and created by K-12 students residing in Arkansas.
- Artworks must be completed within the current 2024-2025 school year.
- Artworks must be submitted by the student’s school art educator, private art instructor, or homeschool art instructor.
- Educators may only submit ONE entry per grade level taught at their school/program.
- Most media including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, collage, digital illustration, sculpture, and craft are eligible. Animation, sound, and video artworks cannot be accepted.
- 2D Artworks – No larger than 18 x 26 inches
- 3D Artworks – No larger than 20 x 20 x 20 inches
Please Note:
- Collaborative projects should be submitted as a single entry.
- Collaborative projects, like individual artworks, will be awarded one program award and one Blick Art Supplies coupon, regardless of the number of participating students.
- Selected artworks must be delivered to AMFA by April 11, 2025, and must be available for exhibition until Fall 2026.
- The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts reserves the right to omit any artwork from submission or display for any reason.
Submit Your Entries
About the Grand Juror
The Grand Juror is an important member of the Young Arkansas Artists exhibition process and helps to foster connections in the wider Arkansas art community. Beyond selecting award winners, the Grand Juror is invited to share their expertise with students, educators, and the wider AMFA community by participating in the Awards Ceremony and Exhibition Opening.
The Grand Juror for the 64th Young Arkansas Artists exhibition is Christian Cutler, Director/Curator of the Windgate Museum of Art at Hendrix College.
Christian H. Cutler received his M.F.A. in photography in 2006 from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, MI, where he also assisted the registrar and preparator of the Cranbrook Art Museum. He earned his B.A. in 1997 from Sewanee: The University of the South in Sewanee, TN and attended the Glasgow School of Art in Glasgow, Scotland in 1995.
Christian is the Director/Curator of the Windgate Museum of Art at Hendrix College. He has previously served as Gallery Director for the Gallery of Art & Design at The University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO; Director of Galleries for Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX; Director’s Assistant for The Sir Elton John Photography Collection; and Co-Director and Registrar for Jackson Fine Art Gallery in Atlanta, GA. He has also owned an art installation business.
Christian’s interests and experience are multifaceted. In addition to his work as a gallery administrator, Christian taught introductory- and advanced-level traditional photography courses for high school and adult community classes. He also has led seminars on archival art preservation and on portfolio preparation for artists.
Additionally, Christian is a practicing artist whose work has shown internationally and is a part of the Sir Elton John Photography Collection. When he is not kayaking and fishing with his twin boys, Christian enjoys riding Italian motor scooters, mountain biking, and working in the studio.
The 64th Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition and awards are supported in part by the Alice L. Walton Foundation.
The 64th Young Arkansas Artists Awards Ceremony is supported by the Alice L. Walton Foundation.
The 64th Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition awards are supported in part by Arkansas Children’s Hospital with additional support from Mid-Southern Watercolorists.
Redeemable coupons awarded to the 64th Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition honorable mention and best in class winners are provided by Blick Art Materials.