Youth Art Month
Held every March, Youth Art Month is a month-long celebration of student artists, in which WMA partners with elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the Wiregrass region to display student artwork in the museum.
The exhibition is open to PK-12th grade students from public, private, and home schools in the region, and emphasizes the value of art and art education for all children and youth.
Click below to access the entry form:
Important Dates
January 3rd through February 3rd: Drop-off artwork deadline
February 14th: Notification of selected works
February 17th - February 28th: Artworks not selected picked up
Tuesday, March 4th: Opening reception, 4:30-7:30PM
Saturday, March 29th: YAM Exhibition closes at 3PM
April 11th - April 30th: Final pick-up of selected artwork
Entry Guidelines
Number of Entries
Enter only ONE (1) artwork per student. Please limit to FIVE (5) submissions per art project.
Artwork Drop-off / Pick-up
Only a teacher or parent/guardian may drop-off or pick-up artwork which must be delivered during drop-off dates/times. If you are submitting for multiple students, please fill out the attached Student Artwork Sheet.
Quality of Work
Artwork should be well constructed, sturdy, and not contain glitter or food materials. Artwork must be fully completed and dry before being submitted to WMA.
Honesty Statement
Students and teachers or parent/guardian must complete the Honesty Statement on the entry form and attach to back of work with masking tape. Do not use clear tape, staples or glue.
Sizes / Media
Limit artwork to 2D (standard sizes) and 3D works (no larger than 20” x 20”). All mediums accepted.
Disqualification
Artwork that does not adhere to the guidelines or work that is plagiarized will not be considered.
Additional Consideration
All Grade 9-12 submissions to YAM will automatically be considered for the First Congressional Art Competition provided the submission meets the size requirement as outlined in the Congressional entry guidelines.
Usage Rights
By entering YAM, WMA reserves the right to reproduce images from selected art works for promotional purposes. Credit will be attributed.
Selection of Work
Jurors
All works for display in the Youth Art Month Exhibition will be selected by a jury process through three arts and arts education professionals.
Elementary / Middle School
Elementary and Middle (K- 8) jurors will select pieces that offer the best representation of grade level and imagination.
High School
High School (9 – 12) jurors will select works that offer the best representation of grade level, craftsmanship, innovation, and technical skill.
Awards
High School (9 – 12) students’ works are eligible for the following awards:
- Wiregrass Museum of Art Award, exhibited at WMA
- Youth Art Month Award, exhibited at a YAM sponsor’s location
- Houston County Award, exhibited in the County Commission building
- City of Dothan Award, exhibited in the Mayor’s office
- 1st Congressional Art Competition Award, exhibited at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
Elementary (K-5) and Middle (6-8) grade students’ works are eligible for the following award:
- Wiregrass Museum of Art Award, exhibited at WMA (2)
All awarded artwork will be displayed at the designated location for one (1) year, from March 2025 through March 2026. Works will be returned in April 2026. All art award winners will receive a $50 check and will receive recognition during a Dothan City Commission meeting held in early March 2025.
THE 1ST CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION: ARTISTIC DISCOVERY CONTEST
In conjunction with Youth Art Month, WMA will once again host the 1st Congressional Art Competition, open to all 9th-12th graders in the 1st Congressional District. The winning piece from Alabama-District 1 will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside artwork from other contest winners nationwide. The 1st Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Congressional district. All winning pieces from each Congressional district will also be considered for selection as the National Congressional Art Competition winner.