Young Artists Wanted: Neosho Arts Council Opens Free Thomas Hart Benton Youth Art Competition
What do you think?
Young artists across the Four States have a chance to show off their work and compete for prizes this fall as the Neosho Arts Council opens submissions for the annual Thomas Hart Benton Youth Art Competition and Exhibition.
The contest is free to enter and split into two age brackets: a Kids Division for ages 8 to 12 and a Teen Division for ages 13 to 17. Each participant can submit up to three original, two-dimensional pieces.
Organizers accept a wide range of traditional mediums, including painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, pastels, charcoal, and ink. Work that will not be accepted include digital art, photography, AI-generated pieces, giclees, high-relief work, and 3D sculptures.
Artists must drop off their entries between September 19 and September 24 at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, located off McKinney Street and Highway 86 in Neosho. Drop-offs can be made during regular hatchery hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The month-long public exhibition runs from September 25 through October 24 at the hatchery. Artwork pickup is scheduled during the closing reception on October 24, with additional pickup times running October 25 through October 30 during normal hatchery operating hours.
Complete contest rules and official entry forms are available online at neoshoarts.net.
