Youth Arts Show
The Youth Arts Show
The Youth Art Exhibition spotlights the best artistic talents of young people from our area schools.
Each year the exhibit features paintings, drawings, three-dimensional pieces, and more – all originals.
Viewing the 2023 Show
The Festival Youth Art Exhibit was on display throughout Festival 2023 at the DeVos Place Convention Center and was sponsored by the GVSU Department of Visual and Media Arts.
The exhibition showcased 197 pieces from 46 schools throughout 19 different districts in the surrounding Grand Rapids area.
Viewing is May 30th thru June 16th from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily on Skywalk level at DeVos Place Convention Center.
Congratulations to our Award Recipients
Arlee Van, The Lone Hare, WaterColor
2nd Grade
Coit Creative Arts Academy
Grand Rapids Public
Quinn Freudigmann, The Silent Jungle, Tempera Paint and Ink
4th Grade
Wealthy Elementary
East Grand Rapids Public Schools
Paige Merrill, Flower Selfie , Mixed Media
6th Grade
North Rockford Middle School
Rockford Public Schools
Nia Peterson, Hand and Farming, Markers
6th Grade
Northern Trails 5/6 School
Forest Hills Public Schools
Yaya Munoz, Disconnected, Acrylic Painting
10th Grade
Catholic Central High School
Diocese of Grand Rapids
Shawna Dams, Oh no…, Batik textile dye
12th Grade
West Ottawa High School
West Ottawa Public School
Drop Off Details
Once you’ve completed the entry form, artwork can be dropped off at
- 2857 Burritt St NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504) by May 20th. I will have a few bins on my covered porch for them.
- Allendale Early Childhood Center (10455 Timberline Dr, Allendale, MI 49401) ) by May 20th 4pm- Leave in the front office for me.
- DeVos Place on Saturday, May 21 in the morning from 9-10am. We will be hanging the work (9am-12pm). If it is easier for your district, one person could also collect the artwork and bring it together. If you are able and willing to help hang artwork, please let me know.
If you are able and willing to help hang artwork, contact Emily Miller. You could also collect the artwork for your district if you would like to bring it in a group.
Questions? Contact Emily Miller emily@festivalgr.org
Middle School – Sadie Debski, Take It Easy, 7th grade, North Rockford Middle School
Pick Up
Artwork will be taken down at the end of Festival on Sunday, June 5th at 4:00pm. You can help take down the exhibition and take your artwork home, or pick them up from my house any day after. Your students can also stop in and take their own artwork home on Sunday.
Our GVSU Jurors
We are lucky to partner with Grand Valley State University’s Department of Visual and Media Arts to sponsor our awards. We will again be having one for each elementary, middle, and high school. Our two jurors this year are staff from Grand Valley State University’s Art Gallery: Nathan Kemler and Joel Zwart.