Wondering about the many panels of art on display at Central Library this month?

Each January, the Arlington Public Library hosts a display of the Regional Scholastic Art Award, a competition which encompasses all Middle School and High School students in Arlington County. Almost 2000 works of art were submitted and judged by three jurors. Out of these, the judges chose 376 to be awarded either a Gold or a Silver Certificate. These works are on display on the first and second floors of the Arlington Central Library.

In 1923, M.R. Robinson founded this prestigious art exhibition for students with artistic talent. Each year, Regional Art Competitions across the nation select over 12,000 Gold Keys out of 100,000 submissions. These 12,000 Gold Key individual and portfolio works of art are then juried on a National Level in New York City. On a National Level, over 1,000 works of art are awarded as Gold and Silver Keys. In the past seven years, Arlington County alone has received between 7-11 National awards for both individual and portfolios works of art.

Arlington Public Library will host a reception at Central Auditorium on Wednesday, Jan. 19 for Arlington student artists, co-sponsored by the Arlington Public Schools and the Arlington Artists Alliance. The event starts at 6:00 p.m., and awards being given out at 6:30. p.m. In addition, our Youth Services staff will chose one piece to add to our own permanent collection.

To see more images of the work on display, click on the painting to see a selection on flickr. Or come into Central and browse the work in person!