School of Art and Design to Host 2023 Annual Student Competitive Exhibition
UA Little Rock’s School of Art and Design is hosting its Annual Student Competitive, a juried exhibition open to anyone currently enrolled in a School of Art and Design studio course.
The Annual Student Competitive will feature artwork that was created this past year. Those taking classes for their major, minor, or for an elective were all eligible to submit entries. From introductory courses to BFA and MA project work, any artwork in any medium was eligible.
Colin Thompson, the gallery director for the Central Arkansas Library System, is this year’s juror who has selected which pieces will be used in the exhibition. With a wide range of submissions, from varying abilities and forms to experience and skillset, Thompson’s job is to select what he believes is the best work from the pool of entries.
“The Annual Student Competitive is students’ introduction to the expectations and processes of online gallery and juried exhibition submissions,” said Nathan Larson, interim gallery director.
Awards will be available to those whose work is featured in the exhibition. Many awards are sponsored by local businesses, including Alman Recycling Scrap Metal, Hearne Fine Art, The Root, and more. Among the prizes are cash awards, scholarship awards, gift certificates, and starving artist awards.
“We are very grateful for the support from so many local businesses and hope to grow that support to include more business and more prize opportunities,” Larson said.
The exhibition can be viewed at no cost in the Brad Cushman Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art and Design from March 27 until April 19. It is open to the public. A reception for the event will be held on Friday, March 31, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the gallery.
“For UA Little Rock and the greater Little Rock community, it’s an opportunity to see the breadth of what students create in the courses offered by our department and the yearly opportunity to celebrate our students,” Larson said.
