AHHHH! Emerging Young Artists is HERE! DO. NOT. MISS. THIS.

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There’s an air of excitement in the COMPAS office this week! 

I mean, we’re always excited about our work, but this week we are VERY excited! Here’s why:

The 2023 Emerging Young Artists juried art show, gallery exhibition and awards ceremony for Saint Paul visual artists 12-18 years old is just around the corner! In fact, it’s next week, March 9th to be specific, from 6-8pm in Creators Space in downtown Saint Paul. It’s going to be a fun, creative, inspiring evening. Come meet the next generation of Saint Paul’s creators and see the art they’ve created. Enjoy some tasty treats and cheer for the artists as many of them receive awards for their work. You’ll find all the details here. We warmly invite you to join us.

Want to know more about EYA? We’d love to tell you! (Remember, we’re VERY excited!)

What exactly IS Emerging Young Artists (EYA)?

In 2022, COMPAS launched Emerging Young Artists (EYA), a new initiative to recognize the excellence and nurture the talent of young visual artists. The program allows emerging creatives to see new possibilities for themselves and their futures through in-school programming and opportunities to publicly present their work. 

Why is EYA needed?

EYA delivers visual arts education where it is needed most. Minnesota has one of the largest gaps in the country when it comes to education outcomes disparities by race and socioeconomic status, and that achievement gap is especially prevalent in Saint Paul. Over 65% of Saint Paul School students receive free or reduced-price lunches, and 79% are non-white. 

How does EYA work?

The EYA-Saint Paul program delivers high-discounted arts residencies to under-resourced middle and high schools in the Saint Paul metro area. Students are invited to submit work to a juried gallery exhibition curated by COMPAS Teaching Artists, and select participants receive monetary awards recognizing their achievements. Ultimately, EYA provides more Minnesotans with equitable access to creative experiences and helps cultivate the next generation of creative professionals. 

Can you tell us MORE about how it works?

Yes! EYA consists of three phases:

FALL: COMPAS begins facilitating discounted visual arts residencies at select middle and high schools across the Saint Paul metro. These residencies take place from Fall through Spring. Participating students receive mentorship from professional artists and are encouraged to submit work to COMPAS. (Visual artists can be requested right now through our website!)

WINTER: Submissions open for the EYA-Saint Paul gallery exhibition. A panel of COMPAS Teaching Artists selects up to 60 pieces for the public display, and students, educators, parents, and artists are invited to attend the opening reception. 

SPRING: This is when things get really exciting! We host an exhibition showcase, opening reception, and award show that celebrates the work of that year’s emerging artists. That’s what is happening next week, and again, we hope you’ll be there!

Why does creativity even matter in the lives of children and adolescents?

Here’s just a few reasons why it’s important to provide kids with opportunities to be creative through a program like Emerging Young Artists:

  • It stimulates the senses and sparks curiosity.

  • Research shows that studying the arts and learning through artistic and creative practice contributes to overall academic success, particularly for young people who come from economically or socially deprived backgrounds. 

  • Another way of saying that: Artistic backgrounds provide a strong foundation for intellectual growth, as well as promote self-confidence and emotional expression. 

  • Studies have shown that kids who participate in art-making acquire skills that help them in decision-making, problem-solving, creative thinking, and teamwork. 

  • Also? Making art - being creative - makes people happy!

Are you excited?? We hope to see you next week!