2025 Elementary / Middle / High School Annual Student Show!

April 7th – April 18th, 2025
Reception: Thursday, April 10th, 5PM – 6:30PM

The Octagon Center for the Arts highlights artwork by local elementary, middle, and high school students annually.

Important Update to the Show from 2025:
Since COVID, we have presented the K-8 grades as a digital show. This year we intend to include grades 6-8 back into our physical show. Though we cannot offer monetary awards to students in grades 6-8, we will still offer ribbons. Due to very limited space, grades K-5 will still be presented as a digital show at this time.

Submission forms are NOW OPEN!
Submission forms close March 26th at 11:59pm

 GRADES 6 – 12:

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Online Form Submission Due: 11:59pm, Sunday, March 26, 2025
• Final Artwork Delivery Date: 5pm, Tuesday April 1, 2025.
• Show Opening in the Community Gallery: Monday, April 7, 2025
• Reception: Thursday, April 10, 2025, 5:00-6:30pm in the Community Gallery. Our juror will announce awards and share comments on the show.
• Show Closing in the Community Gallery: Saturday, April 18, 2025

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

• Eligible schools or homeschools must be located within 20 miles from Ames.
• All submitted artwork must be entered into the Online Form by March 26th at 11:59 pm to be included in the show.
• Each student may submit one (1) piece to exhibit. There is otherwise no limit to the number of submissions a school may submit.
• All media will be accepted.
• *AI generated Images — Images created or enhanced by use of artificial intelligence (AI) will not be accepted into this show. If we suspect an entry was created or enhanced using an AI program, we will reach out for more information. We reserve the right to disqualify a submission if we suspect the involvement of AI.
  *This excludes the use of photography filters.

Note: Photographic reproduction of entries may be used or copied by the Octagon Center for the Arts, without further agreement by the artists, for exhibition and/or publication (print or online). Artwork may not be credited in publications due to space limitations.

2025 JUROR: Anna Segner

QUESTIONS?

Contact: Casey Bridgham, Gallery Director

Address: 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA 50010

Phone: 515-232-5331

Email: exhibits@octagonarts.org