Museum of Art launches student art contest at Heart of Albany Fest
Special Photo: Albany Museum of Art
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ALBANY ─ Albany area students can compete for cash prizes and an opportunity to showcase their talent this fall at the Albany Museum of Art. The new contest is part of the expanded art offerings at the 7th annual The Heart of Albany Festival on Nov. 16.
“Highlighting the creativity of Albany area students through diverse artistic expressions is not just about awards and recognition — it’s about celebrating the power of art to inspire and connect communities,” AMA Director of Education and Public Programming Annie Vanoteghem said. “By providing a platform at The Heart of Albany Festival, young artists have a chance to shine. It’s all about giving them the spotlight and letting their unique voices be seen and heard.”
The Heart of Albany Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the museum grounds at 311 Meadowlark Drive. With support from sponsors including Publix and the James M. Barnett, Jr. Foundation, the AMA offers free admission to the festival. The student exhibition will open on the day of the festival in the AMA’s West Gallery, located between the museum lobby and the AMAzing Space activity center, and will continue through Jan. 4.
“High school students will compete in several categories and be eligible for cash awards,” Vanoteghem said. “There are no cash prizes for middle school students who enter, but they will be recognized for their work.”
Submission categories are abstract works (representational and non-objective); technical works; enhanced photography and digital works, and sculpture and 3D works. A student may submit up to two works, and they may be in different categories. To be eligible, a work must have been created between Nov. 1, 2023 and the submission deadline of 5 p.m. on Nov. 12.
Each artwork must include a label with the artist’s name, the title of the artwork, the year it was created, the medium or media used, and the dimensions of the work. The artist also must submit an artist statement of 150 words or fewer.
Judges will determine first-place, second-place, and honorable mention finishers in each of the five categories in high school and middle school divisions. The top two winners in each high school category will win a cash award.
“People attending The Heart of Albany Festival will also decide a cash prize winner,” Vanoteghem said. “Festival-goers will use a QR code in the West Gallery to vote for their favorite artworks in the exhibition. The artwork with the most votes when voting closes will earn the artist the People’s Choice Award.”
The AMA website has rules and deadlines for the contest, detailed descriptions of the categories, and examples of artwork labels and artist statements. The information may be found at www.albanymuseum.com/events/heartfest/participate/.
Questions may be emailed to Vanoteghem at [email protected], or call her at (229) 439-8400 during regular museum business hours.
In addition to the student art contest and exhibition, The Heart of Albany Festival (formerly ChalkFest) will again feature professional chalk artists, school and amateur chalk artists, artists demonstrating their work, entertainment, kids’ activities, a vendor village, a libation station, and food trucks.
Learn more about the festival at www.albanymuseum.com/events/heartfest/.
AMA EXHIBITIONS
— “Beauty in the Humble Places, a David Lanier Retrospective,” through Jan 4 in the Haley Gallery.
— “Rootwork,” recent works by Jillian Marie Browning, through Jan. 4 in the East Gallery.
— “Sixty Years of Masterpieces and Memories,” highlights from the Permanent Collection, through Jan. 4 in the McCormack Gallery.
— “Old Master Drawings from the Shaffer Collection,” Part 3 through Jan. 4 in the Hodges Gallery.
— “Escape Plan,” an installation by Elinor Saragoussi, in the West Gallery.
The Albany Museum of Art is located at 311 Meadowlark Drive adjacent to Albany State University’s West Campus just off Gillionville Road. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is open to the public 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free.
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