
YOUTH ART PROGRAMS
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS
Our programs are designed to promote professional and emerging artists, as well as young aspiring artists. We have several annual events and programs with opportunities for youth participation: Chalk Walk, the Epiphone Guitar Design contest, the Synergy Exhibition, and the Art Kits for Kids initiative.
SYNERGY
CLAYTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS
EXHIBITION: July 3-31, 2021
Reception: Friday, July 30, 2021
Synergy showcases gifted K-12 art students alongside their teachers and current art interns/student-teachers from East Tennessee. See the results of the artistic student-teacher synergy that happens every day in our schools. Awards and scholarships are presented to encourage further development of these art students’ artistic aptitude. The Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville, TN. All artists, their families, and friends are encouraged to attend this wonderful celebration!
2020 EXHIBITION
A VERY SPECIAL ARTS FESTIVAL
WEST HIGH SCHOOL
DATE: TO BE ANNOUNCED
A Very Special Arts Festival is a one of a kind event that celebrates Knox County Students with diverse abilities and the various artistic skills they are learning in the classroom. The event is not a competition, but an opportunity for students with disabilities to share their talents, works of art, and accomplishments with the community. Through this event, we hope to encourage and stimulate feelings of self-worth within these students.
The event includes a wide variety of activities in music, dance, drama, and visual arts. Workshops of “make and take” arts and crafts, demonstrations, exhibits of art work, and performances by individuals with disabilities are all elements of the festival. Students will enjoy spending time with local mascot/character favorites, an exhibit from the Knoxville Zoo mobile, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, a DJ, and more!
EPIPHONE GUITAR DESIGN CONTEST
SONGBIRDS MUSEUM
EXHIBITION: TO BE ANNOUNCED
The contest is open to all high school and middle school students living in East Tennessee. 20 Guitar designs created by youth artists were selected and will be displayed at the Songbirds Museum, a one-of-a-kind guitar museum located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Dogwood Arts Gallery in Knoxville, Tennessee. The guitars will be auctioned online to benefit Dogwood Arts and the Songbirds Foundation’s youth art programs.
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2019 EXHIBITION
ART KITS
FOR KIDS
Every child deserves access to creative opportunities and art education regardless of the financial circumstances of their families. Time spent creating art has a tremendous impact on child development. Unfortunately, we recognize that many children in our community do not have the resources necessary to enjoy art at home. The Art Kits for Kids program helps change that by providing a variety of age-appropriate supplies like crayons, colored pencils, markers, modeling clay, coloring pages, construction paper, scissors, pencils, pencil sharpeners, glue, pens, notepads, and more to kids in need all across East Tennessee.