2024 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards

About the Exhibition and Awards Ceremony

The University of Minnesota presents the 2024 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards (MSAA), with an exhibition of artworks by hundreds of Gold and Silver Key award winners from across the state of Minnesota at the Regis Center for Art and an Awards Ceremony at the Weisman Art Museum. The presentation of the MSAA exhibition at the Regis Center for Art, and the awards ceremony at the Weisman Art Museum, demonstrates the high level of achievement by art students in Minnesota, and the exceptional academic resources at the University of Minnesota for the study, practice, presentation, and interpretation of the visual arts. This marks the 10th year the University of Minnesota has hosted the Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards and its collaboration with the Art Educators of Minnesota is emblematic of the University’s commitment to furthering the educational and artistic opportunities for young people in Minnesota.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the longest running, most prestigious competition and largest source of scholarships for creative teenagers in the United States. The Awards program was created in 1923 by Maurice R. "Robbie" Robinson, founder of Scholastic Corporation, and has been administered by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers since 1994. It has an impressive legacy and a noteworthy roster of past winners including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, and Joyce Carol Oates and many others.

Established to ensure that literary and artistic talent were recognized in schools and communities across the country, the program began as a small writing contest; today, it offers recognition in 27 diverse categories including animation, architecture, dramatic script, fashion, painting, photography, poetry, sculpture and video games. The Awards are open to all students in grades 7 through 12 from public, private and home schools throughout the U.S. (and its territories), as well as American-run schools abroad and community programs serving eligible student populations.

The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers gives out over a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships to top award-winning creative teens to help fund their continued education. Each year, 15 Portfolio Gold Medalists receive $10,000 awards, representing the highest level of achievement for graduating seniors. In addition, national award-winning seniors are eligible for scholarships from a network of 60-plus arts institutes, universities, colleges, and summer programs, which annually earmark well over $5 million in financial aid and scholarships for Scholastic Award winners. The Scholastic Art Awards are also recognized by the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, a consortium of leading art and design colleges in the United States, as an effective way for artistic students to develop successful portfolios for college admission.

The Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards program is organized and administered by the Art Educators of Minnesota. Art Educators of Minnesota is a non-profit 501(c)(3) professional organization dedicated to supporting the professional interests and concerns of visual and media arts educators at all levels. Art Educators of Minnesota supports advocacy for quality arts education for all learners, supports visual art student events that recognize artistic expression and quality, encourages professional growth and collaboration by providing networking opportunities to share ideas and information, informs its members about current trends and issues, fosters leadership, and acknowledges professional excellence in visual and media arts education. 

Gallery Hours:

Gallery hours are by appointment. To make an appointment to visit the gallery email Howard Oransky, horansky@umn.edu. The Gallery will be open to the public on Saturday, June 29th from 9:00am - 6:00pm. 

Parking, Accessibility, Cost

Parking for the exhibition is available at Regis Center for Art nearby on the street, at the 21st Avenue South ramp, 5th Street South lot, and 19th Avenue South ramp; hourly or event rates apply. 

Parking for the awards ceremony is available at the Weisman Art Museum in the Museum Garage located under the museum or the East River Road Garage. Limited meter parking is also available on the street. These parking locations, the Regis Center for Art, and the Weisman Art Museum are wheelchair-accessible. These events are free and open to the public.

Image: Audrey Kanu, He That Putteth His Hand To The Plow, Grade 12, Painting 2024 MSAA American Visions Winner, St Michael-Albertville High School