2024 Scholastic Art Awards: Wisconsin Exhibition

The Scholastic Art Awards is a 100+-year-old nationwide program that acknowledges excellence in the visual arts and encourages the creative endeavors of young people throughout the United States. Since 1976, the Milwaukee Art Museum has hosted the Wisconsin awards, highlighting the extraordinary talents of students in grades 7–12 from across the state in an exhibition that celebrates their artistry with the entire community.

The 2024 Scholastic Art Awards: Wisconsin Exhibition features hundreds of artworks juried by regional arts professionals, including artists, university faculty, and gallerists. The jury selects award-winning pieces from 16 categories: Architecture and Industrial Design, Ceramics and Glass, Comic Art, Design, Digital Art, Drawing and Illustration, Editorial Cartoon, Expanded Projects, Fashion, Film and Animation, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. Artworks granted the Silver Key receive statewide recognition, and artworks granted the Gold Key later compete at the national level in New York City.

Many award winners have gone on to achieve distinction in the fine arts, applied arts, and design, and they often credit their success to the early recognition they received as participants in Scholastic. Harry Bertoia, Robert Indiana, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol, and John Wilde are among the past awards recipients with pieces in the Museum’s collection.