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VisArts Exhibits Regional Student Artists and Gold Key Winners from Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2022

February 02, 2022 News

Malena Lo Prete, Mixed Media

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond will host the city’s pool of emerging artistic talent from Richmond region schools. As the Richmond regional affiliate of the 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, VisArts coordinated and supported the jury process of more than 2,000 submissions by area middle and high school students and mounted an exhibition of over 150 award-winning works.

Scholastics is a longstanding and prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative students in grades 7 through 12. The Visual Arts Center has been a regional affiliate for the program for the last 4 years and as the regional affiliate for the national program, VisArts is Richmond’s local touchpoint for young artists. In early January, the center invited 66 local creatives to jury more than 2,000 pieces of work in 16 categories, such as photography, drawing, painting and creative writing.

This year, nearly 260,000 works of art and writing were submitted to more than 100 affiliate partners across the country. For the Richmond area, VisArts accepted submissions from students in Richmond City, Hanover County, Henrico County and Chesterfield County. The works that were selected for Gold Key Awards will be on view in VisArts’ True F. Luck Gallery from February 5 through February 20. A special Richmond Public Schools Showcase, featuring award-winning works by RPS students will also be on view outside of the gallery during that time.

“The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are hugely important to young artists in our community and to schools, educators and families that support them,” said Jordan Brown, VisArts’ Director of Education and Programs. “Too often, young artists don’t get as many chances to be formally recognized for the work they are creating – these awards create a space for young artists to be celebrated and to be encouraged to continue to pursue their creativity.”

The Scholastic Awards provide that recognition on a local scale and give students the opportunity to compete at a national level, Brown said. Award recipients also get the chance to win scholarships that could help them continue to study art in college.

A private, virtual ceremony for gold key award winners will be held on Saturday, February 12 from 11 to 12 p.m. A full list of winners and more information about the Scholastic Awards can be found on VisArts’ website.