Scholastic Art Awards

The Bay Area regional awards bolster the voices of young artists.

About

Local youth share their creative talents

A student stands in front of a sculpture at the Scholastic Art Awards at CCA.

Recognizing Bay Area high school and middle school achievement

Presented by the nonprofit organization the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the country’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative students in grades 7–12. Each year over 100,000 students from across the United States and Canada submit work to be juried by leading artists, designers, writers, and educators.

California College of the Arts leads the nine-county Bay Area regional chapter for the national Scholastic Art Awards, an esteemed opportunity for middle and high school students to share their vision, earn important recognition, and jumpstart a pathway toward art and design careers. The competition opens in early September and closes January 26.

How to Enter

Plan to submit this fall

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The annual competition opens in early September and closes in January. Students in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) can apply in 28 categories of art and writing. High school seniors may also submit art portfolios. Students and educators create accounts and enter directly through the national organization's website by following the step-by-step guide and tutorial videos.

Award Recipients

Congratulations!

Two students pose for a photo in front of a painting.

We’re inspired by every student who submitted their work. Distinguished student artwork is awarded as a Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention, with CCA faculty serving as the regional judges for this annual competition. Gold Key awardees advance to represent the Bay Area at the national level and are nominated for additional awards such as the American Vision Award.

Exhibition & Celebration

Presenting bold work from the Bay Area

Exhibition attendees view student work at the Scholastic Art Awards at CCA.

Each year CCA hosts a pop-up exhibition on campus in San Francisco featuring Silver and Gold Key recipients. See a selection of award-winning artwork across a variety of mediums from young Bay Area artists.

We also host a special event for awardees, their families, and teachers. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.