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Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards

Memphis students on the national stage

Each year, young artists across West Tennessee, East Arkansas and North Mississippi submit work to the Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards for the chance to earn scholarships, exhibit at Memphis Art Museum and advance to national judging in New York City.

Presented by Memphis Art Museum and the Memphis Art Museum League, this annual juried program is open to students in grades 7–12. Entries are reviewed through a blind process by artists, art educators and other arts professionals.

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How the Awards Work

Students submit original artwork online for regional judging. Regional winners may receive scholarships, cash prizes and a place in the annual museum exhibition. Gold Key work advances automatically to national judging.

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Enter the 2027 Awards

The submission portal opens this fall. Mid-South entries are due December 14, 2026, at 10:59 PM CST.

Regional winners are eligible for scholarships, cash prizes, and a place in an exhibition at the Memphis Art Museum. Gold-key winners will also have their work sent digitally to New York City for national judging.

Start Your Entry

Is the Mid-South Your Region?

The Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards reflect the breadth of artistic talent emerging from schools across West Tennessee, East Arkansas, and North Mississippi.


Students in grades 7–12 who are age 13 or older may enter. Eligibility is based on the location of a student’s school; homeschooled students may also participate.

Find Your Region

“The Scholastic Awards open doors of opportunity. Through scholarships, national exposure, and professional mentorship, students can turn early talent into very real educational and career pursuits."

Judy Lang, President of the Memphis Art Museum League

What are the important 2027 dates?

Submission Portal Opens

September 1, 2026

Deadline to Submit

December 14, 2026 by 10:59 PM CST

Deadline for Senior Portfolio Regional Scholarships

January 1, 2027

Award Announcement

January 8, 2027

Exhibition Dates

January 22 - February 22, 2027

Student Celebration and Award Ceremony

February 13, 2027

See how far your art can go

In 2026, 514 students submitted 3,737 works to the Mid-South competition. Regional jurors presented 1,133 awards, and more than 200 works were selected for the museum exhibition. Students were awarded $656,600 in scholarships and $8,200 in cash prizes.

Twenty-four Mid-South students went on to earn 27 national medals, including one American Visions Medal and five Gold Medals.

FAQ

What can I enter? How do I submit my work?
How is the work judged? What recognition can students recieve?
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What can I enter?

Students may submit individual work in Architecture & Industrial Design; Ceramics & Glass; Comic Art; Conceptual, Installation & Participatory Art; Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage; Drawing; Editorial Cartoon; Experimental Photography; Fashion; Film & Animation; Graphic Design; Illustration; Jewelry; Mixed Media; Painting; Photography; Printmaking; or Sculpture.

Graduating seniors may also submit an Art Portfolio composed of six works connected by one cohesive idea or visual investigation.

Each work may be entered in only one category. Review the national category descriptions and upload requirements before submitting.

How do I submit my work?
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How do I submit my work?

Create an account through the Scholastic Awards portal, choose the category that best fits your work and upload the required digital images. Students will connect an educator to the entry and identify sources that influenced the work.

The entry fee is $15 for an individual work and $40 for a senior portfolio. Fee waivers are available through the portal for students who need them; no proof of financial need is required.

What can I enter? How is the work judged?
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How is the work judged?

Mid-South entries are reviewed through a blind judging process by a panel of artists, art educators and other arts professionals. Jurors consider originality, skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

How do I submit my work? What recognition can students recieve?
Close

What recognition can students recieve?

Regional entries may receive a Gold Key, Silver Key or Honorable Mention. Regional winners are eligible for scholarships, cash prizes and a place in the Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition at Memphis Art Museum.

Gold Key work advances digitally to national judging in New York City. National honorees may receive Gold or Silver Medals and become eligible for additional scholarship awards.

How is the work judged?

Questions

For questions about the Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards, contact education@memphisartmuseum.org.

Sponsors

The program is sponsored by Pinnacle Financial Partners, RiverArtsFest, and Logan Scheidt with additional support from Derek Fordjour and the family of Marcia Bicks.