Congratulations to the 2025 Mid-South Scholastic Art Award recipients! Please see the full list of awards here.
What are the Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards?
As an affiliate of the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, the Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards honors exemplary art by students in Grades 7 through 12, recognizing their outstanding achievements in a competitive annual exhibition and providing cash prizes and scholarship opportunities. The Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards is generously sponsored by the Brooks Museum League, which provides both financial support and countless volunteer hours, and Pinnacle Financial Partners. Additionally, the Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards is supported by Derek Fordjour and the family of Marcia Bicks.
The Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards is an annual juried student art exhibition for students in Grades 7 through 12, presented by the Brooks Museum League and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Regional winners are eligible for scholarships, cash prizes, and a place in an exhibition at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Winners will also have their work sent to New York City for national judging.
When?
You may begin submitting works for the 2024 Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards on September 1, 2024 at artandwriting.org. The deadline for the 2024 Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards has been extended to Monday, December 13th, 2024 at 11:59pm.
Who is eligible?
Students in Grades 7 through 12* may submit exemplary visual artwork to the Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards competition. Newly created works of art created from January – December are preferred, however works that didn’t win any awards last year may be re-submitted with significant alterations. Previously awarded works CANNOT be re-submitted.
*must be 13+ years of age on or before 10:59 p.m. December 13, 2024.
How do I enter?
All submissions must be completed online, at artandwriting.org.
This year, we will be using the same website as last year (2024). All students and teachers who already have accounts can log back in starting September 10, 2024.
Educator submission instructions
Student submission instructions
SENIOR PORTFOLIOS
Graduating seniors may submit up to two portfolios of work to be considered for awards and for regional scholarships.
Students should submit works that best exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal vision or voice. Regional and national jurors are often looking at the consistency of the work across the portfolio and an emergent style that is unique, personal, and expressive. Senior portfolios are also reviewed for scholarship consideration by several area colleges and universities. To apply to regional scholarships, please fill out the form below and email ali.bush@brooksmusuem.org.
Regional Forms
Regional Scholarship Form (Senior Portfolios Only)
Participating colleges and universities
Troubleshooting Documents:
History
Since 1989, the Brooks has been proud to partner with the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a national non-profit organization, to host the regional competition and exhibition forMemphis and the Mid-South area. More than 2,000 entries in a wide variety of categories, including painting, drawing, mixed media, photography, sculpture, graphic design, film, fashion, as well as senior art portfolios are judged by a panel of judges over a course of several days. Judging for the competition takes place digitally, through a blind adjudication process involving a panel of regional artists, art educators, and other arts professionals. Regional winners are eligible for scholarships and cash prizes, are part of the exhibition at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, are invited to participate in an awards ceremony at the museum, and have their work sent to New York City for national judging.
Other Important Information
Plagiarism
The Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the national organization that organizes the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, take plagiarism very seriously. For a copy of our policy on plagiarism and information about how to avoid it, please click here.
Judging Criteria
On the regional and the national level, jurors consider the following criteria when evaluating artwork submitted for consideration: Originality, Technical Skill, and Emergence of a Personal Style or Vision. For more information about these criteria and the judging process, please visit http://www.artandwriting.org/the-awards/faq/ .
We have even more ways to learn with the Brooks Museum. See our programs below.
Learn moreArt Therapy Access Program
Art therapy is defined by the American Art Therapy Association as a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by a masters-level art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.
Learn MoreHomeschool
The Brooks offers free Homeschool Days for homeschool students of all ages and their families. Homeschool Days occur six times a year - three in the fall and three in the spring. Each of these days explores the museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions through a specific theme.
Learn MoreInside Art
Inside Art is Tennessee’s only family gallery dedicated to visual literacy – the ability to make meaning from the images you see. Teachers, parents, and caregivers alike will love each thoughtful element and its profound learning objectives. Children of all ages will relish in the sounds, sights, and textures as they pose, climb, create, relax, and explore.
Learn MoreVirtual Visits
Classes are 40 minutes in length and are available Monday through Friday. All virtual visits must be booked a minimum of two weeks in advance and require at least 10 participants. This is a free program open to all ages and types of groups.
Learn MoreArt Therapy Access Program
Art therapy is defined by the American Art Therapy Association as a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by a masters-level art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.
Learn MoreField Trips
School tours are designed to engage students in critical thinking about art and to support students in developing visual literacy skills. Students of all ages are invited to explore the rich collection of the Brooks Museum on a tour.
Learn MoreHomeschool
The Brooks offers free Homeschool Days for homeschool students of all ages and their families. Homeschool Days occur six times a year - three in the fall and three in the spring. Each of these days explores the museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions through a specific theme.
Learn MoreMid-South Scholastic Art Awards
The Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards is an annual juried student art exhibition sponsored by The Brooks Museum League which provides both financial support and countless volunteer hours, Pinnacle Financial Partners, RiverArtsFest, and Logan Scheidt with additional support from Derek Fordjour and the family of Marcia Bicks.
Learn MoreHomeschool Activities
Upcycled Sketchbooks
Materials
Materials Needed:
-An old book you are allowed to draw in
-gesso
-scissors
-pens and pencils
-markers
-paints and brushes
-glue
-binder clips, chip clips, or rubber bands
-washi tape, painters’ tape, or scotch tape
-junk mail, magazines, or other paper for collage
Lesson Plans
Browse our lessons for teachers to connect their students’ museum visit to the classroom.
Lesson plans with objectives based on Bloom’s Taxonomy are available for themed tours of the permanent collection and special exhibitions. They’re designed to provide information about artworks, vocabulary, online resources, suggested curriculum standards, and pre- and post- museum visit activities for the classroom.
The Environment
Grades PreK-1 (ages 4-6)
Explore themes from the environment, including seasons, animal habitats, and weather patterns through interactive gallery discussions and art-making activities.
Science - Technology - Engineering - Art - Math
Grades 3-8
Use art from our permanent collection as a launching point to explore STEAM concepts.
Arts of Global Africa
Grades K-12
An introduction to the rich artistic expressions of Africa, which are as varied as the continent itself.
Lesson Plan Attribution
Lesson Plans
Browse our lessons for teachers to connect their students’ museum visit to the classroom.
Lesson plans with objectives based on Bloom’s Taxonomy are available for themed tours of the permanent collection and special exhibitions. They’re designed to provide information about artworks, vocabulary, online resources, suggested curriculum standards, and pre- and post- museum visit activities for the classroom.
The Environment
Grades PreK-1 (ages 4-6)
Explore themes from the environment, including seasons, animal habitats, and weather patterns through interactive gallery discussions and art-making activities.
Science - Technology - Engineering - Art - Math
Grades 3-8
Use art from our permanent collection as a launching point to explore STEAM concepts.
Arts of Global Africa
Grades K-12
An introduction to the rich artistic expressions of Africa, which are as varied as the continent itself.
Lesson Plan Attribution