The education staff of the museum, working in concert with a committee of area art educators, designed this annual competition to offer middle and high school students the opportunity to display their talents and be honored for their accomplishments in a professional art museum environment. The KMA is delighted by the quality of the artworks, the dedication of the teachers, and the commitment of the museum staff to establish a museum/school tradition for our community.

Public, private, and home schools, grades 6–12, in all the counties of East Tennessee were sent entry materials, totaling 700 packets. Each teacher was allowed to submit up to 30 artworks. Categories for the competition include ceramic, drawing, digital imagery, mixed media, painting, computer graphics, sculpture, traditional photography and printmaking.

A total of 1049 artworks were entered in the competition, from which 301 were accepted by the jurors for inclusion in the exhibition. Each school that entered is represented by at least one work of art.

The Best-of-Show winner receives a purchase award, and the artwork is to become a permanent part of the collection of James Dodson, on loan to the Knoxville Museum of Art’s Education Collection.

Four-year tuition scholarships for winning juniors and seniors who are eligible to attend and who complete application requirements were offered from the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Memphis College of Art, and the Maryland Institute College of Art; and full-tuition scholarships to attend pre-college summer programs were offered from the Watkins College of Art & Design, the Savannah College of Art and Design and the College of Architecture and Design at the University of Tennessee “Design Matters” camp.

The student art exhibition is made possible by presenting sponsor Regal Entertainment/ Regal Foundation Group and additional sponsorship from Cleveland Institute of Art, Coleman’s Printing and Awards, Crayola, Jerry’s Artarama, Knoxville Museum of Art, Maryland Institute College of Art, Memphis College of Art, Morris Creative Group, Tennessee Art Commission, Tennessee Art Education Association, Savannah College of Art Design, College of Architecture and Design at the University of Tennessee and Watkins College of Art and Design.