Call to Teachers | Our Stories: High School Artists 2023

The exhibition Our Stories: High School Artists 2023 will be on display at the University of Arizona Museum of Art from February 25 – May 20, 2023. High school teachers are invited to select up to two artworks created by students during the 2022-2023 school year to showcase at the UAMA. Multiple teachers from the same school – including non-art teachers for those schools that do not have one or more art teachers – may submit two student artworks each.

This annual exhibition showcases the creativity and artistic achievement of high school artists across Tucson and Pima County. What unique artistic practices have teachers and student artists developed in classrooms across Southern Arizona? What ideas do young artists want to express, and how do they do it through art?

Image: Devesha Singh, Transcendent, 2020 (Walden Grove High School, Teacher Laura Jackson) from the exhibition Our Stories: High School Artists 2020

How to Participate

1.  Teachers: Carefully review the submission guidelines below and select up to two artworks/artists to participate.
2.  Work with students and parent/guardian (for students under 18) to complete and submit this online submission form no later than Friday, December 23.  This required form is the “loan agreement” where student/family member authorizes UAMA to store and display the artwork. It also asks for contact info for student and teacher, full artwork details (title, dimensions, materials) and gives the option for student artists to create a 150 word statement to appear on the label next to their artwork.
3.  Teacher, student, or family member must drop off artwork ready to hang Saturday, January 7 – Saturday, February 4. Artworks must be identified with the following info: Student Name, Teacher Name, and High School. Ready to hang means that it is framed (if applicable) and has wire or hanging hardware attached to back. UAMA will provide pedestals for 3D artworks. Artworks may be dropped off during regular Museum hours:  Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-4:30pm. For weekday drop-off outside these hours and on Mondays, please contact Willa Ahlschwede at willa@arizona.edu to arrange.

Submission Guidelines

• This opportunity is open to all high school students in Tucson and Pima County. There is no fee to submit or participate in the exhibition.
• Artworks must be selected for submission by a teacher of high school art (or related subject). Maximum of 2 student artworks may be selected per TEACHER. Multiple teachers from a single school may submit up to 2 artworks each. One submission per student.
• Artwork must be dropped off ready to hang including mat/frame (if applicable), and hanging hardware for 2D artworks. The UAMA reserves the right to not display works that are unable to be hung/displayed safely in the gallery, or in the event that we receive more artworks than will safely fit in the space.
• Maximum size: No larger than 40 inches in any dimension (height/width/depth). Maximum dimension includes the frame.
• Media: 2D and 3D artworks in a wide variety of media will be accepted: drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, fiber, mixed media, and more.
• Artworks must have been created any time in the 2022-2023 school year.

Outstanding Emerging High School Artist Awards

Five participating artists will also be chosen to receive the Outstanding Emerging High School Artist Award, selected by a jury of UAMA staff and faculty from the University of Arizona School of Art. In partnership with the School of Art, we are excited to offer $1,000 tuition awards to any Outstanding Emerging High School Artist awardee who enrolls as a BA or BFA major at the School of Art in the next two years and notifies their School of Art advisor they would like to use the award. Jurors will judge artworks based on craft/confident use of materials, originality, overall composition, and strength/development of the idea or concept.

If you have any questions or need support with any part of the submission process, please contact Willa Ahlschwede, willa@arizona.edu, 520-621-7110.