2025 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, and graphic design.

Submissions are open and will be judged by a team of accomplished artists who have been provided a rubric for judging. We will not be able to provide any judging feedback. Notifications on acceptance or nonacceptance will be sent by September 9th. Those accepted into the exhibition will receive further instructions on drop off of the 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!

Timeline:

June 3: Call to Artists
August 14: 5-6 pm Information Session (Virtual)
August 23: 3-5 pm Information Session
August 31: Call to Artists Closes

September 8-9: Artists will be notified of selections for the exhibition
September 9-11: Drop-off dates for participating locations (Cloud901, Whitehaven, Cordova, Frayser, and East Shelby Libraries)
September 13: (Cloud901) – Artists Networking Event & Orientation. (Artists may also bring accepted artwork to this event.)
September 20, 2025 – Teen Arts Festival at Benjamin Hooks Central Library

Teen Arts Fest Rules & Guidelines

Eligibility

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

Fifty artists will be selected for the exhibition. Only one piece per artist will be chosen for the exhibition

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

Fees

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.

Price/Value

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.

Liability

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 if 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

Photography & Media

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.

What happens after submission?

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 will be expected to (if the piece requires special installation) 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 who 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

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.