52nd Annual High School Art Competition 

Calling all High School artists! The Art Center will host it’s 52nd Annual High School Student Art Competition from January 31 – February 26, 2026! This exhibition is designed to educate high school artists on how to professionally enter and display artwork for a juried competition. Along with works from our area high schoolers, the Art Center will also be displaying works from the student’s art teachers in their 9th Annual High School Art Teacher Exhibit.

Open to high schoolers, grades 9th – 12th, students may enter up to 3 works for $12. 

Note, this is a juried competition, not all entered artworks will be selected for display. 

Judge: Pattie Chalmers, Head of Graduate Studies and Professor in the School of Art & Design at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Teen Takeover and Awards Ceremony: Saturday, January 31, 1– 3pm, with competition awards announced at 1:30pm. Area university art & design departments will have information booths. Select universities will award scholarships and prizes. Art Center will also give away participation prizes.

This competition is open to students who live in or attend high school in the following counties:

Adams County, IL | Marion County, MO | Audrain County, MO |

McDonough County, IL | Brown County, IL | Monroe County, MO

Cass County, IL | Morgan County, IL | Clark County, MO | Pike County, IL

Greene County, IL | Pike County, MO | Hancock County, IL | Ralls County, MO

Knox County, MO | Schuyler County, IL | Lee County, IA | Scott County, IL

Lewis County, MO | Shelby County, MO

NOTE: We do not accept artificial intelligence-generated art (AI-ART) for the competition. Our competition is dedicated to showcasing and celebrating human creativity and artistic expression. We encourage artists to submit their original artworks that reflect their individual perspectives and creative journeys.