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After skipping a year because of the 2020 COVID shutdown, an exhibition of art from students in a five-county region will open at the LaGrange Art Museum on Saturday, April 17. 

This is Creative Youth Art League’s 28th annual exhibition.

“Art shows can mean a lot of extra work and headache for the teachers, especially during COVID’s teaching challenges, but it is so worth it when they see their student’s eyes light up and their parents beam with pride at the sight of their beautiful work hanging in a professional museum setting,” said the museum’s education coordinator Victoria Slagle in a press release. “Participating in events like Creative Youth Art League can be the first step and inspiration for a student to pursue their dreams of a creative career.”

Director of Education Sallie Keith said this exhibition gives the community a chance to recognize the accomplishments of the youth and to see their creativity. 

In keeping with current COVID protocols, the exhibition will have a different format than in year’s past.  

“We typically have over 500 attendees in a few short hours on opening day. That does not allow for social distancing,” said Laura Jennings, executive director of the museum. 

According to the press release, attendees will now be able to see the exhibition from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 and then regular museum hours which are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, May 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. 

The exhibition will be two weeks long this year, instead of the usual one week.  

The two major awards are the Best of Troup County, which all grade levels are eligible to win, and the Morrill Hutchinson Award for the Best in Show is awarded to a high school level student. 

Awards will be announced virtually and on the museum’s website.

The sponsors of this year’s show are the sons of Morrill Hutchinson and their wives. 

They are Tommy and wife Debbie; Bill and wife Beverly; and Chuck and wife Shelley.

Curating the show was LaGrange Art Museum’s Keith, Slagle and Deputy Director Lauren Oliver. 

This year’s art preparatory is Dennis Bugg.