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Emerging Young Artists (EYA)

The Emerging Young Artists (EYA) program celebrates the creativity and talent of young visual artists in the Saint Paul metro region. Each year, artists aged 12-18 in the Saint Paul or east metro area are invited to participate.

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A young woman stands in front of the COMPAS step and repeat to pose for a photo.

Emerging Young Artists (EYA) supports young visual artists through professional‑level learning and presentation opportunities, including a juried art exhibition and school-based artist residencies.

Juried Art Show

Launched by COMPAS in 2022, EYA features a professional juried art show in which selected works are exhibited in a gallery setting. Submissions are reviewed by professional artists who provide constructive feedback to support artistic growth. Many participating artists also receive awards recognizing the quality and originality of their work.

EYA is the legacy program of the Les Farrington Best 100 Juried Art Show, formerly administered by JCI Saint Paul, also known as the Saint Paul Jaycees (jcistpaul.org). From its founding in 1957 through 2019, Best 100 was an annual juried exhibition that celebrated and elevated the work of young artists in Saint Paul. Although the JCI Saint Paul chapter closed operations in 2020, the Saint Paul Jaycees Charitable Foundation—longtime funder of many of the organization’s major community initiatives—continues to operate and now serves as the legacy sponsor of the EYA program.

Artist Residencies

EYA residencies connect professional artists with students in schools, offering exposure to specialized techniques and creative processes not typically available in standard visual arts programs. Recent programs have included cast metal arts, Saori weaving, clay hand building, and more.

Videos From Past EYA Exhibitions

A collection of student work on a gallery wall at the Landmark Center.
Learn more about this year’s EYA Gallery

Resources for Emerging Artists

​​Here is a video from COMPAS Teaching Artist Kelley Meister that offers instructions for how artists can photograph their artwork.

Access Application

Who Makes EYA Possible

Sponsor logos from the Saint Paul Jaycees, the Saint Paul Star Program, the NEA, Travelers, and a note that COMPAS is grateful to Kathryn Schleich for sponsoring the awards.

This activity is supported, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Saint Paul Cultural Sales Tax Revitalization Program. 

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COMPAS is an arts education nonprofit that puts creativity in the hands of Minnesotans, regardless of their age, background, or skills. Based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area, COMPAS teaching artists deliver creative experiences and arts programming across Minnesota.

Minnesota State Arts Board LogoLegacy Amendment Logo

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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