NEW SEMANTICS GALLERY

The Inaugural Cedarhurst High School Art Competition

This year turns another page in Cedarhurst’s fifty years of service to our region’s high schools and middle schools exhibiting their art. 

In 1975, less than two years after the Mitchell Museum opened to the public, Cedarhurst’s Administrative Counselors registered the museum to become the regional affiliate for the Scholastic Art Awards. Each year the museum has facilitated a juried competition and exhibition for regional students, offering an opportunity to showcase their artworks in a professional gallery setting.

This year marks a new chapter for Cedarhurst, as we facilitate our very own Cedarhurst High School Art Competition in an effort to streamline participation, increase engagement, and offer more tangible awards to participating students. 

This year we are unveiling a new awards program for students – 27 cash awards* will be handed out opening night. 

We also continue our longstanding tradition awarding the Administrative Counselors Scholarship* for the Best Senior Portfolio submitted by a student continuing their education in the arts. 

Congratulations to the 10 schools represented in this year’s exhibition: Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, Carbondale Community High School, Christopher High School, Flora High School, Harrisburg High School, Massac County High School, Mt. Vernon Township High School, Nashville Community High School, New Athens High School, and Patoka High School. 

We thank this year’s jury panel: Michael Aldag, Katrina Bauer, Chloe Flanigan, Judy Mason, and Daniel Overturf for their participation and support of arts education.

For her support, we thank Administrative Counselor committee representative Alaina Cusumano for her thoughtful insight in the scholarship award. 

Finally, we thank Tracy Schilling, our high school exhibition coordinator, who worked diligently to make sure every student and every teacher received the support needed to ensure participation. 

Education is the heart of Cedarhurst’s mission, and we are proud to embark on this new chapter in highlighting the artistic endeavors of southern Illinois students. This program and others combine to make Cedarhurst a valuable educational resource, impacting nearly 15,000 students annually. 

* Awards will be announced on Saturday evening, January 25, 2025. A list of award winners will be listed here on January 28.