2022 NC Azalea Festival youth art contest exhibition open free to the public
Join Wilmington Councilman Luke Waddell and artists for the Art Contest Exhibition ribbon cutting on Thursday at 5:30 pm.
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – The 2022 North Carolina Azalea Festival Youth Art Contest returns to the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center with an opening reception for the first time in three years.
Join Wilmington Councilman Luke Waddell and artists for the Art Contest Exhibition ribbon cutting on Thursday at 5:30 pm.
The top 93 entries from elementary, middle, and high school divisions of the annual contest will be on display with refreshments provided by Apple Annie’s Bake Shop and Nothing Bundt Cakes.
The exhibition is presented by Thalian Association Community Theatre, management of the Historic USO Building for the City of Wilmington.
The NC Azalea Festival Youth Art Contest is open to all public, private, charter and home elementary, middle, and high school students.
397 entries were received from talented young artists across the state. The 1st place student artists by division are, Kindergarten – Grade 2 Ava Grace Boysen, a 2nd grade student at Porters Neck Elementary, Grades 3 – 5 Hayden Boysen, a 5th grade student from Porters Neck Elementary School, Middle School 8th grader Jasmine Hicks from Noble Middle School, and the High School 1st place entry was created by 9th grade Jay Lancaster from North Brunswick High School.
In addition to prize packages for the winners, Thalian Association Community Theatre will give each of the top 93 young artists a complimentary ticket to the upcoming Youth Theatre production Junie B. Jones the Musical Jr, April 29th – May 8th on the 2nd Street Stage in the Community Arts Center.
Artwork from the top entrants in each division may be viewed in the HBHUSO/CAC Community Gallery with the ceramic art of renowned Orange Street Pottery.
The children’s artwork will be on display at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center throughout the month of April during regular business hours.
The HBHUSO/CAC will also welcome the 40th Annual Juried Spring Art Show from Saturday, April 2nd – Sunday April 10th.
The official art show of the Azalea Festival is one of the most popular festival events presented every year by the Wilmington Art Association, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to giving back to the Wilmington Art community.
The expanded nine day event is free and open to the public. The Historic USO Building has a long tradition of festival events, beginning with the opening ceremony of the first Azalea Festival in 1948.
