COLDWATER – From underwater scenes to still-lifes, portraits, and abstract art, student artists interested in entering their artwork in Arts Alive’s annual Kids’ Art Rocks! art contest and exhibit should submit their artwork to the Tibbits Admin Offices by March 21, 2023.

This spring contest offers prizes including art supply giveaways plus the opportunity for young artists to have their artwork framed and displayed in a local business. Students from preschool to grade 12 are encouraged to submit their artwork for the annual show and contest to be displayed at the Tibbits Opera House Art Gallery from May 2 to June 27.

Kids’ Art Rocks! has recognized almost 600 pieces of student art since the program’s inception. There is no cost to enter and each student may submit one piece.  Artwork should be flat or on canvas, must be unframed, be a minimum size of 8” x 10”, and also be appropriate to hang in a business.

All artwork will be presented in an exhibit in Tibbits Art Gallery for the community to enjoy. The exhibit will be juried and pieces chosen for the final exhibit will be professionally framed and entered into the art lease program for businesses to sponsor and display for one year.

A reception will be held on Tuesday June 27 from 6-7pm for all artists and their families as well as the general public. Young artists in attendance will be eligible for art supply giveaways. Businesses that attend the reception will have first choice of student artwork. Students who do not win the year-long lease program will be able to take their artwork home with them at the close of the reception.

To be included in this art show, artwork should be dropped off at Tibbits Administration Office, 93 W. Chicago St. by March 21 at 5pm. There will be a parent permission form and biography form to fill out for each artist, which are available at Tibbits.org. For questions or more contest information, call Steph at Tibbits at 517-278-6029, email [email protected] or visit the Arts Alive Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Arts-Alive-Coldwater.

Cutline: Student artist Madisyn Porter, one of Arts Alive’s 2022 Kids’ Art Rocks! contest winners, poses next to her artwork titled “Sophie.” Porter’s winning piece was leased by the Village of Union City, one of 14 area businesses who supported the 2022 Kids’ Art Rocks! lease program. To be included in the 2023 Kids’ Art Rocks! art show, artwork should be dropped off at Tibbits Administration Office by March 21.