Above photo: "Six Little Birds Dancing on a Wire" by kindergartener Essie House, Theodore Jones Elementary.

The Arkansas Arts Center once again presents its Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition, a celebration of the creative achievements of young artists in Arkansas! You'll be able to view the impressive student artwork May 1-July 26. Plus, the museum will host a free Family Festival and Awards Ceremony on May 2 to celebrate the opening of the exhibit.

Started in 1961, the annual exhibit displays works made by Arkansas students in kindergarten through high school. This year, 455 artworks from 111 schools were entered; 106 pieces were selected for the exhibition by members of the Arkansas Art Educators Association.

A juror selects one Best of Class and two Honorable Mentions for each grade, and each winning artist's school receives a monetary award to support its art program. Other awards will be given for Middle School and High School level art, the Ray Smenner Best in Show Painting, and the Mid Southern Watercolorists Best in Show Watercolor.

Winners in the 54th Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition will be honored at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2 in the Alice Pratt Brown Atrium. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and free Family Festival, which includes refreshments and activities for all ages from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Families will have the opportunity to celebrate the artistic process of Jean Michel Basquiat, Iona Rozeal Brown, and Wangechi Mutu with hands-on creation stations and gallery guides.

The 54th Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition will open May 1-July 26; hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Admission is free. For info, visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org.