School of Art and Historic Cane Hill Host Fifth Annual Arkansas High School Artists Competition

Roman Kresse

'Messaging in the Hallway' by Roman Kresse, 2023 Cane Hill Scholarship Winner

The School of Art in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences in partnership with Historic Cane Hill Inc. are hosting the fifth annual Arkansas High School Artists Competition and Exhibition. Applications are open now through Oct. 15 and open to any Arkansas high school student in 10th-12th grades.

Since 2018, Historic Cane Hill Inc. and the School of Art have partnered together celebrating high school artists and providing them with resources to pursue their work and higher education.

The competition grand prize for one Arkansas high school senior is the Historic Cane Hill Young Artist Scholarship. This scholarship provides one-year tuition and fees for the student to attend the U of A School of Art, a scholarship valued at $10,000. Additional cash awards may be distributed to other winning artists.

"The School of Art is thrilled to partner with Historic Cane Hill Inc., whose legacies of architecture, education and the arts continue to have a significant impact on our region," said Christopher Schulte, interim director of the School of Art. "This competition and exhibition, as well as the Cane Hill Young Artist Scholarship, celebrates the promise of the visual arts in young people's lives."

The non-profit organization, Historic Cane Hill Inc., is based in the picturesque, art-friendly community of Cane Hill in Northwest Arkansas. They are responsible for ambitious efforts to preserve and restore this historic community and are committed to the support and advancement of the arts as a primary component of revitalization efforts.

Cane Hill College, chartered in 1852, was one of the first four-year collegiate institutions in Arkansas and boasted an active program of painting and drawing. This competition honors that legacy.

"We are so grateful for the opportunities the Historic Cane Hill Exhibition has provided so many young artists in Arkansas. For many students, this is the first time they have applied to a juried exhibition and had their works installed in a professional gallery," said Donna Jones, director of recruitment and outreach at the School of Art. "The supportive collaboration of Historic Cane Hill, educators around the state, faculty and staff at the U of A School of Art and the generous donors have truly developed this annual exhibition and award into something special and unique. We are excited for our continued partnership and are all consistently in awe of our young Arkansas artists."

Competition entries may be in any medium, including drawing, painting, etching, lithography, block-cut printing, digital art, photography, sculpture, ceramics, textile, collage and mixed media.

A jury selected from arts organizations across the state review the works submitted for consideration, culminating in an in-person reception ceremony for artists, educators, families and friends on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. at Historic Cane Hill Gallery.

For more information about the Fifth Annual Arkansas High School Artists Competition and Exhibition visit historiccanehillar.org.