Student Art Exhibition
Open to Grades Pre-K through 12
2025 NEWPORT BEACH STUDENT ART EXHIBITION
The Cultural Arts Commission is pleased to present a new and exciting program for young artists! The Student Art Exhibition is an opportunity for students grades pre-K through 12 to showcase their creativity. Artists may submit one original work of art, two-dimensional format only, that will be displayed at the Newport Beach Central Library (1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach 92660). Jurors will select winning entries and awards will be distributed in the form of gift card prizes.
Please contact the Newport Beach Cultural Arts Office at 949-717-3802 or arts@newportbeachca.gov for further information.
For photos of previous entries, check out the 2022 Student Art Exhibition Slideshow!
Young artists submitted one original work of art in the following mediums: painting (acrylic, oil, watercolor), drawing (ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel, markers, crayons), or collage.
Entries must be submitted in-person at the Central Library only. Prizes are divided into three categories with nine winners overall:
- Pre-K - 3rd grade
- 4th - 7th grade
- 8th - 12th grade
An award ceremony will be held in honor of the prize winners.
ART DELIVERY AND RETRIEVAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Submission of Artwork
Artwork submissions are currently closed until October 1. Printable application form will be available when call opens..
Art Exhibit
Exhibit dates will be from January 5 through February 23, 2026. Exhibit will be at the Newport Beach Central Library (1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, CA 92660).
Artwork Retrieval
Artwork retrieval date(s) will be from March 2 - 15, 2026.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Please fill out the Entry Form and bring the completed form, along with your artwork, to the Children’s Room located on the 1st floor. Once the application and artwork has been registered by staff, art will be brought to the 1st floor lobby for display.
ENTRY GUIDELINES
Accepted mediums for entries: Accepted canvas for entries:
Paintings Paper Drawings Cloth canvas
Collages
- Submissions are limited to one (1) work of art per artist. Entry forms are required for participation.
- Entries will be accepted in person only at the Central Library located at 1000 Avocado Ave. Please do not bring artwork to other Newport Beach library branches.
- Artwork size limit: 9” x 12” and must be unframed.
- Each entry must be an original work of art and not violate U.S. copyright laws. Unaccepted artwork includes copies from existing photos or images created by someone other than the applicant.
- The City Arts Commission retains the right to reject entries that are deemed inappropriate for public display.
- For the purpose of exhibiting at the Library, all accepted artworks will be adhered onto foam core for mount and display. Please be aware that artworks will be returned in this manner, that removal of artwork from the foam core may cause damage to it and the entrant accepts that the City shall not be held responsible for any damage of the artwork caused as a result of such attempts.
Questions? Call (949) 717-3802 or send an email to arts@newportbeachca.gov.
PRIZE DETAILS:
Prizes are divided into three categories with nine winners overall: grades Pre-K - 3rd, grades 4th - 7th, and grades 8th – 12th. Winners will be contacted to receive their award and invited to the 56th Annual Newport Beach Art Exhibition for a brief opening ceremony in honor of their achievements. Prizes will be distributed as gift cards in the increments listed below.
All participants will receive a certificate of participation through the email provided at the time of their registration. Please note that a certificate of participation does not indicate a prize award.
For a period of one month following the exhibition, all art entries will be displayed on the Cultural Arts section of the City website for public viewing. The name of each award winner along with their artwork will be specially spotlighted, followed by acknowledgement of all other participant names and their artworks.
PRIZE CATEGORIES:
Pre-K - 3rd Grade*
- 1st Prize - $100.00 – The Courage of Creativity, The Henri Matisse Award
- 2nd Prize - $50.00 – A Creation from The Heart, The Marc Chagall Award
- 3rd Prize - $25.00 – Every Child is an Artist, The Picasso Award
*One artist will be selected as an Honorable Mention. There is no gift card prize but the artist will receive a certificate for their accomplishment.
4th Grade - 7th Grade*
- 1st Prize - $100.00 – An Inner Picture of the Soul, The Edvard Munch Award
- 2nd Prize - $50.00 – Shapes and Colors as Language, The Georgia O’Keefe Award
- 3rd Prize - $25.00 – By All Means, Paint! The Vincent Van Gogh Award
*One artist will be selected as an Honorable Mention. There is no gift card prize but the artist will receive a certificate for their accomplishment.
8th Grade - 12th Grade*
- 1st Prize - $100.00 – An Artist Who Inspires Others, The Salvador Dali Award
- 2nd Prize - $50.00 – Art with a Life of Its Own, The Jackson Pollock Award
- 3rd Prize - $25.00 – Happy as Long as I Can Paint, The Frida Kahlo Award
*One artist will be selected as an Honorable Mention. There is no gift card prize but the artist will receive a certificate for their accomplishment.
2024 STUDENT ART EXHIBITION WINNERS
PRE-K THROUGH 3RD, 1ST PLACE WINNER
Elaine, Koi Pond in Fashion Island
PRE-K THROUGH 3RD, 2ND PLACE WINNER (tied)
Ian, We Love Reading
PRE-K THROUGH 3RD, 2ND PLACE WINNER (tied)
Erica, Foxy Moons
PRE-K THROUGH 3RD, 3RD PLACE WINNER
Hannah, A Summer Vacation to Korea
PRE-K THROUGH 3RD, HONORABLE MENTION
Alexa, Mermaid Sisters
4TH THROUGH 7TH GRADE, 1ST PLACE WINNER
Sojeen, The Entrance Way to Hope
4TH THROUGH 7TH GRADE, 2ND PLACE WINNER
Quinn, Winter Bird
4TH THROUGH 7TH GRADE, 3RD PLACE WINNER
Oli, Behind the Page
4TH THROUGH 7TH GRADE, HONORABLE MENTION
Esther, Hope
8TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE, 1ST PLACE WINNER
Reese, Staples Street
8TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE, 2ND PLACE WINNER
Sean, Bavarian Castle
8TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE, 3RD PLACE WINNER
Helen, CA Flashback
8TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE, HONORABLE MENTION
Beckett, Untitled