Teen Arts Festival

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2024 Teen Arts Festival

This prestigious show, funded by Friends of the Library, celebrates the talent of young artists through a juried art exhibition. This provides artists ages 13-19 the opportunity to showcase their art to the Memphis/Shelby County and surrounding areas. Accepted artwork in the following forms: paintings, drawings, original prints, fiber art, ceramics, sculpture, photography, graphic design, jewelry, film and fashion. Our theme for the Teen Arts Fest is “Inspire” Give us your best interpretations of this theme! 

The following prizes are awarded: 

$500 — Best in Show 

$300 — First Place 

$200 — Second Place 

$250 Prize for The Inger Upchurch Award for Art Jewelry 

The exhibition is supported by Friends of the Library, Memphis Public Libraries, and The City of Memphis.

Submissions are open and will be judged by a team of accomplished artist who have been provided a rubric for judging. We will not be able to provide any judging feedback. Notifications on acceptance or non acceptance will be sent by: October 14th. Those accepted into the exhibition will receive further instructions on drop off of project and if you submitted multiple projects, which project was formally accepted into the exhibition. No gratuitous violence, sexual imagery, or drug use. Keep it PG!

Teen Arts Fest Rules & Guidelines

The following prizes are awarded: 

$500 — Best in Show 

$300 — First Place 

$200 — Second Place 

$250 Purchase award-To be sponsored by a local organization or company

Pieces will be judged by Visual Impact, Interpretation and Creativity, Composition/Design and Craftmanship.

  • Entries: September 6th-September 30th  
  • Notifications to accepted artists via email – October 5th 
  • Notifications to non-accepted artists via email – October 5th
  • Networking Event: November 9th, 2:00-5:00 PM
  • Teen Arts Fest 2024: November 16th, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Drop off Dates – October 15th – 20th
    • Drop off locations will be at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Cordova Library, and other locations will be announced soon.  

The exhibition is open to artists  13-19 in the Memphis/Shelby County TN. Area

There are no fees associated with the Friends of the Library Teen Arts Fest. 

If your art piece is purchased, 20% of the purchase will go towards the Friends of the Library Branch that you designate.  

Entry forms, images must be submitted electronically. You can submit your entries at the below application. 

  • Artists may submit up to three pieces for judging.  
  • Images must be in JPG format, minimum 300 DPI resolution, and identified by the artist’s last name and (unique) title of work. Image file size must not exceed 10 MB.  
  • Images may be used for marketing and exhibition-related publication.
  • Eligible Work: 
  • Artwork in the following forms is accepted: Paintings, drawings, original prints, fiber art, ceramics, sculpture, photography, graphic design, jewelry, film, and fashion.  
  • All components must be affixed, no separate parts.  
  • Teen Arts Fest cannot accept performance or installation works.  
  • Only original artworks by the entering artist will be accepted, no reproductions.  
  • Entries must have been completed within the last three years. 

Entry Specifications: 

Two-dimensional entries may be at most 70 inches by 70 inches and must be no smaller than 8 inches by 10 inches framed.  

• All two-dimensional work must be framed and/or ready for display.  

• Works on paper must be framed and glazed or matted.   

• Three-dimensional entries may not exceed 30 pounds and 30 inches by 30 inches. 

Photography and Digital art must be printed out, matted, and framed. Photography and Digital Art must submit one print. You are not able to sell multiple prints.  

  • If your art piece is purchased, 20% of the purchase will go towards the Friends of the Library Branch that you designate.  
  •  The listed sales prices must include the commission.  
  • Pricing Guide: (Hourly Wage × Hours Spent) + Cost of Materials 

           We suggest an hourly wage of $10.00 to $13.00 per hour 

  •  Films will not be eligible for sale

• If the artwork is not for sale, print “NFS,” but a value is still required.

Friends of the Library-Teen Arts Fest reserves the right to photograph and reproduce all works accepted into the exhibition for educational and media purposes. 

Friends of the Library-Teen Arts Fest does not insure artworks in this exhibition while on display or while in transit to and from Teen Arts Fest. Friends of the Library-Teen Arts Fest, its staff, and its volunteers are not responsible for loss or damage to artworks in this exhibition however the damage may be caused. The entrant’s submission of the entry form constitutes an agreement to these terms and conditions.  

For questions about the Friends of the Library-Teen Arts Fest  Juried Exhibition or for help with the submission process, please contact Teen Services Coordinator at nakia.armstrong@memphistn.gov

Submissions are reviewed by a panel of esteemed judges and library reps. Notifications for acceptance or nonacceptance into the show will be sent. If you are accepted into the show, you will be instructed on when and where to drop off your artwork. Accepted or not accepted into the show, we work to encourage youth artists to attend and enjoy!

Teen Artists MAY(if the piece requires special installation) be asked to support and assist with setting up and showcasing their pieces.

 All accepted artists are required to participate in the event. This is an opportunity to show your work and possibly sell your artwork. It is required that you, or a representative be at the event.

Please invite friends, family, teachers, and anyone that supports you in your community. This is a celebration for you and we would love to see as many people there as possible.

Artist Application

Currently Unavailable…

FAQ

The Teen Arts Fest:  

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024

Time: 11am-2pm 

Location: Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library 

Yes! 

Artist may submit up to three pieces for judging.

Interested Teens can apply at memphislibrary.org. There is a “Call to Artist” page that outlines all submission information with important dates, times, and locations.  After reading the information, youth are encouraged to apply through our online application.  

Submission are reviewed by a panel of esteemed judges and library reps. Notifications for acceptance or nonacceptance into the show will be sent. If you are accepted into the show, you will be instructed on when and where to drop off your artwork. Accepted or not accepted into the show, we work to encourage youth artist to attend and enjoy!  

Teen Artist MAY(if the piece requires special installation) be asked to support and assist with set up and showcasing their pieces. 

Yes! All accepted artist are required to participate in the event. This is an opportunity to show your work and possibly sell your artwork. It is required that you, or a representative be at the event.

Please invite, friends, family, teachers, and anyone that supports you in your community. This is a celebration for you and we would love to see as many people there as possible.

Keynote Speaker – Eric Echols

Born and raised in Orange Mound, Eric developed a passion and love for art at an early age. Being a product of Memphis City Schools, Eric became an Art Educator with Memphis Shelby County Schools. He graduated from The LeMoyne-Owen College, a prominent HBCU in Memphis with a Bachelor of Fine Arts under the leadership and instruction of Professor Phillip R. Dotson and received a Master’s of Arts in Education from Union University. As an art educator, Eric has helped thousands of students reach their fullest potential with their artwork and over the last 18 years, a career that has been very rewarding and long suffering.

Inspired by his Christian faith, Eric has taken his work beyond just creating art and taking photos. It has always been his intent to honor the past and preserve the future through my imagery. For this cause, Eric finds it comforting and rewarding unearthing old African American photographs and Black Americana that capture or narrate the black experience. He also believes that anyone can take a picture with a camera or phone, but it is in the aesthetics of creating images or creating artwork that you really see and feel that passion you want others to feel when they look at your work. It has always been Eric’s belief that photographs are meant to be enjoyed and framed…not living on a computer or phone.

Artists such as Romare Bearden, Deborah Roberts, Betye Saar, and photographers James Van Der Zee, Ernest Withers, and Gordon Parks influence Eric. In trying to find his identity and craft a lane for himself as an artist and photographer, Eric’s work combines mixed-media applications with digital media illustrations”. Passion driven by purpose is what feeds his creativity. Through his artwork, it is Eric’s goal to convey heritage, resilience, and nostalgia by creating visual stories that weave elements of the past with hope for the future.

Juror(s)

About Jacob Platania

Hailing from Memphis, TN, Jacob Platania is not just an artist but an illustrator whose skills were honed at Southwest Community College, where he secured an AA in Graphic Design. He’s the creative force behind the comic book “Cosmic Skunk,” proudly published by Memphis’s own “Bad Dog Comics.” Beyond crafting narratives on paper, Jacob has a heart for the community. He has collaborated with St. Jude, donning the Batman persona, to bring joy and drawing lessons to its patients. Currently, he mentors young minds at the Cloud 901 Learning Lab, guiding teens in the craft of comic creation. Art curation is another feather in Jacob’s cap. He has curated numerous art showcases, including those for The Lightclub’s Trolly Night, and has also taken the lead in organizing events under his own banner.Jacob lives by a profound philosophy: “An individual’s only legacy will be the art they leave behind.”

About Anegla Bailey-Mitchell

Angela (Ann) Bailey-Mitchell was born and raised in the Mid-South, where her love for artistic expression was nurtured early. She attended Overton High School for Creative and Performing Arts, which deepened her passion and inspired her to pursue a degree in Communications with a focus on advertising and graphic design at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Angela profoundly appreciates all forms of artistic expression—those that inspire, transform, and bring immense joy to life. She firmly believes that God works through us, using creativity and art to reveal His most extraordinary works.

Her commitment to the Memphis Public Library and community service has been at the heart of her journey. Through Friends of the Library, Angela is honored to support signature events that highlight the incredible talents and rich resources of the Mid-South. She is particularly proud of her involvement with the Teen Arts Fest, which offers young artists a vibrant platform to explore, express, and develop their creative voices.

Memphis is more than just her home—it is a city filled with boundless artistic potential. Angela is deeply passionate about uplifting the community, especially by fostering a love for creative expression in teens. Through the power of art, she believes that more than just creating, we connect, inspire, and shape the future.