Our Stories: High School Art

What unique artistic practices have teachers and student artists developed in classrooms across Tucson and Pima County? What ideas do young artists want to express, and how do they do it through art?

The annual exhibit Our Stories: High School Artists will go on display February 14 - May 9, 2026. High school art teachers are invited to select up to two artworks created by students during the 2025-2026 school year to showcase at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. Multiple teachers from the same school—including non-art teachers for those schools that do not have multiple art teachers—may submit two student artworks each. 

Deadline to submit online form with artwork info:  Sunday December 14, 2025

If accepted, deadline to drop-off artwork at UAMA:  Tuesday January 20 - Saturday January 31

Please review the submission deadlines and guidelines below and don't hesitate to contact Willa Ahlschwede for any questions or assistance.

Dates and Deadlines

Submit online form, including all artwork info and permissions: Sunday December 14, 2025

Students and teachers receive confirmation of participation in exhibit: December 19-22

Physically drop-off artworks at UAMA: Tuesday January 20 - Saturday January 31, 2026

Exhibit on view: Saturday February 14 - Saturday May 9

Closing celebration and artwork pick-up: Saturday May 9, 2026  3:00-4:30pm

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 the online submission form by the deadline: Sunday December 14. This required form is the “permission slip” where student/family member authorizes UAMA to store and display the artwork. It also asks for full artwork details (title, dimensions, materials) and contact info for student and teacher, and gives the option for student artists to create a 150 word statement to appear with their artwork.

3. Students and teachers will receive a confirmation email of their participation in the exhibit approximately December 19 - December 22.

4. Teacher, student, or family member must drop off artwork ready to hang Tuesday January 20 - Saturday January 31. Ready to hang means that it is framed (if applicable) and has wire, bracket, rings, or similar on the back of the artwork/frame that allows it to hang from the wall (in case of 2D artworks). UAMA will provide pedestals for 3D artworks. Artworks may be dropped off during regular Museum hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-4:30pm. For drop-off outside these hours or before January 20, please contact Willa Ahlschwede at willa@arizona.edu to arrange. Artworks must be identified with the following info: Student Name, Teacher Name, and High School (for example, on the back of the artwork).

Updates for 2026

Outstanding Emerging Artist Awards: Due to changes in awards policies at the university, for 2025-2026, the School of Art and UAMA will not be able to offer the $1000 tuition awards for the top five participating artists who enroll at the UA School of Art in the next two years. We are working to bring back the awards next year and look forward to celebrating all participating artists this year.

Selection Process: As this exhibit grows, we may not be able to accept all artwork submissions due to physical space in the gallery. All artists/teachers who submit the online form will receive a confirmation in late December whether their artwork has been accepted into the exhibit. Artworks will be selected based on 1) equitable representation from different schools and 2) craft/confident use of materials, originality, overall composition, and strength/development of the idea or concept as evaluated by UAMA curators. Any artists/artworks not accepted into the exhibit will be invited to have their artwork featured as part of an online exhibition page.

Submission Guidelines

• 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.
• 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 frame (if applicable) and wire, bracket, rings or similar on the back of the artwork/frame that allows it to hang from the wall (in case of 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.
• Artworks must have been created any time in the 2025-2026 school year.
• In the event the museum receives more submissions than will fit in the gallery space, we will select artworks based on 1) equitable representation from different schools and 2) craft/confident use of materials, originality, overall composition, and strength/development of the idea or concept as evaluated by UAMA curators. Any artists/artworks not accepted into the exhibit will be invited to have their artwork featured as part of an online exhibition page. Artists/teachers/family members will receive a confirmation email Dec 19-22 that they are accepted to the exhibit.

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