Calling all High School artists! The Art Center will host it’s 51th Annual High School Student Art Competition from February 1 – 28, 2024! This exhibition is designed to educate high school artists on how to professionally enter and display artwork for a juried competition. Along with works from our area high schoolers, the Art Center will also be displaying works from the student’s art teachers in their 8th Annual High School Art Teacher Exhibit.

Open to high schoolers, grades 9th – 12th, students may enter up to 3 works for $12. 

Artwork drop-off at The Art Center is:
December 18, 19, 20, 21, 11am – 6pm
January 8,9,10,11, 11am – 6pm
and January 15, 16, 17, 18,  11am – 6pm.

Note, this is a juried competition, not all entered artworks will be selected for display. 

Teen Takeover and Awards Ceremony: Saturday, Feb. 1, 1– 3pm, with competition awards announced at 2:30pm. Area university art & design departments will have information booths. Select universities will award scholarships and prizes. Art Center will also give away participation prizes.

This competition is open to students who live in or attend high school in the following counties:

Adams County, IL | Marion County, MO | Audrain County, MO |

McDonough County, IL | Brown County, IL | Monroe County, MO

Cass County, IL | Morgan County, IL | Clark County, MO | Pike County, IL

Greene County, IL | Pike County, MO | Hancock County, IL | Ralls County, MO

Knox County, MO | Schuyler County, IL | Lee County, IA | Scott County, IL

Lewis County, MO | Shelby County, MO

NOTE: We do not accept artificial intelligence-generated art (AI-ART) for the competition. Our competition is dedicated to showcasing and celebrating human creativity and artistic expression. We encourage artists to submit their original, human-created artworks that reflect their individual perspectives and creative journeys, allowing us to appreciate the depth and diversity of human artistic talent.