The submission period has begun for Southwest Georgia students who want to submit artwork for the third annual juried Student Art Exhibition, which opens on October 30 at the Albany Museum of Art. Submissions for the exhibition and competition must be delivered to the AMA by October 27.

“We want to remind students that they can start submitting their work on Tuesday, October 13, and that all submissions must be in by 5 pm on October 27,” AMA Director of Education and Public Programming Annie Van Oteghem said. “Middle and high school students who attend Southwest Georgia public schools, private schools, and homeschools are eligible to participate. There is no cost to enter.”

Van Oteghem said that student artwork created after November 1, 2025, is eligible to be entered in either the middle school or high school division. Each division has three two-dimensional categories—abstract work, realistic technical work, and enhanced photograph and digital art—and one three-dimensional category—sculpture and 3D art.

“Each student can submit up to two pieces, but the second artwork must be for a different category than the student’s first submission,” Van Oteghem said. “For instance, a student could submit an abstract painting and a sculpture, but not two abstract paintings.”

There are also size limitations for submissions. The maximum size, including frame or mat, for two-dimensional works is 24 by 36 inches. The maximum size for three-dimensional works is 24 by 24 by 36 inches, with a maximum weight of 40 pounds.

Judges will name two top winners and honorable mentions in four categories in both the middle school and high school divisions. All winners and honorable mentions in both divisions will receive certificates. In addition, the first- and second-place high school winners in each category will also receive cash awards.

Museum visitors, however, will determine who wins the People’s Choice Award.

“We will announce the winners on Saturday, November 7, at the Albany Museum of Art’s annual fall art celebration, The Heart of Albany Festival, which will take place in Tift Park this year,” Van Oteghem said. “From the Student Art Exhibition opening on October 30 until the festival day, people can use a QR code posted in the exhibition gallery to vote for their favorite work. The student whose artwork gets the most votes will win the award and a cash prize.”

Entry forms can be filled out, and artwork dropped off at the front desk in the AMA lobby beginning on October 13. Students and their parents and teachers can find detailed descriptions of each of the submission categories on the Albany Museum of Art website at www.albanymuseum.com/events/heartfest/participate/.

“Our city and region are filled with talented, artistic students,” Van Oteghem said. “We are pleased to be able to encourage and foster that talent with this annual exhibition and competition. It’s always amazing to see what these young artists can accomplish." 

 UPCOMING AMA EXHIBITIONS

• Artifacts of a Fate That Never Was, works by O.M. Norling, is Sept 17, 2026-Jan 2, 2027, in the East and Hodges Galleries.
• New York Origins: Building a Collection is Sept 17, 2026-Jan 2, 2027, in the Haley Gallery.
• Woven, Dyed, Sewn: Textiles from the Sub-Saharan African Collection is Sept 17, 2026-Jan 2, 2027, in the McCormack Gallery.
• Twenty Portraits, from the Permanent Collection, is Sept 17-Oct 24, 2026, in the West Gallery.