2023 Scholastic Art Awards Opening Reception

Saturday, March 4th, 2 – 5pm
Main Gallery @ Gallery Aferro
73 Market Street, Newark, NJ

Free and open to everyone!
* Masks are encouraged, but not required. Please register for a free ticket here.

Gallery Aferro proudly welcomes the 2023 Gold Key winners of the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards to honor them and their amazing artwork in an exhibition crafted to encourage, inspire and celebrate. A group exhibition unique to our community, the Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition will feature works from more than 10 different art categories created by students from grades 7 through 12 — all of whom are Gold Key winners.

From digital art to fashion to animation to photography to drawing & illustration, more than 500 Northern New Jersey students will receive 2023 Scholastic Art Awards for their work this year. Gold Key, Silver Key, and American Vision award winners will receive their keys, and Scholastic Art Awards winning teachers will receive commemorative badges during the exhibition opening on Saturday, March 4th.

While this is not a traditional ceremony, Gallery Aferro invites everyone to appreciate all the art created by these brilliant artistic minds while enjoying food, music and camaraderie with an arts community that continues to thrive even during times of great change. Please register for a free ticket here.

For the past 100 years, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have honored the exceptionally creative ways in which American teens and tweens tell stories, share their perspectives, and challenge us to see the world in a new light. These talented students have reflected broader social currents, responding to prevailing political, cultural, and technological developments that have emerged in American society over the decades.

Each year, artists submit hundreds of thousands of works, and the winners are honored in local and national exhibitions. And like the others, this exhibition at Gallery Aferro celebrates the efforts and achievements of all those involved in this program — educators, students, families, jurors, affiliates, and staffers alike — while cataloging the profound impact of the Awards, past and present.

As for the future, for many of these young creative minds, this may be the first time seeing their artwork in a professional gallery, but we are certain it won’t be their last.