This past weekend, the regional level of judging for The Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition, took place. The Exhibition, now in its 55th year, is dedicated to the educational and artistic advancement of our talented young people in the state of Ohio. The exhibition is open to all of Ohio’s 1,112 high schools, both public and private. A program of the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, in partnership with the Ohio Governor’s Office, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and the Ohio Arts Council, sponsors are also secured to offer scholarships for students to continue a post-secondary arts education. The exhibition is a valuable incentive for our young people; it encourages an appreciation for the arts throughout Ohio and reflects the fine quality of art instruction and talent which exist in our state.

The process of selecting artworks for the state exhibition begins on a regional level. The state is divided into 15 regional locations, with high school students in each region invited to enter work in that regional judging. Each region has a designated Regional Director, who is responsible for choosing the judges for his or her region and arranging specifics of the event. Southwest Ohio had 674 entries and 120 works are moving on to the second and final round of judging at the statewide level. The state judging takes place in Columbus; however, the judges for this level of competition are chosen from all over the country and are generally professional artists, college level instructors, or both.

Congratulations to the following students who have advanced to the state level of judging, and best of luck to them in the next round this upcoming weekend!

Molly Audretch, “Saying Goodbye”
Molly Audretch, “Fertile Grounds”
Molly Audretch, “Inverted Virtues”
Bethany Bachman, “A Room with a View”
Grace Gray, “On a Journey”
Lizzie Schreibeis, “Killing in the Name Of”
Lizzie Schreibeis, “See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil”