INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — March is national Youth Art Month. To commemorate this month’s celebration of the visual arts, Cox-Gifford Seawinds Community Outreach has launched its annual Never Forget Tribute Youth Art Exhibition and Contest.
The exhibit and contest is open to all Indian River County middle and high school youth. More than 150 Indian River County youth participated in the inaugural art program launched in 2017.
The Never Forget Tribute Youth Art Exhibition and Contest is important because it encourages young artists to focus on honoring first responders, civilians and military heroes, tapping into their creativity and designing original works of art that will be displayed to honor the victims and heroes of Sept. 11, 2001.
Rules and guidelines are available online at: http://www.coxgiffordseawinds.com/page/youth-art-exhibit-contest
Through the Never Forget Tribute Youth Art Exhibit and Contest there are opportunities for classrooms and groups to receive cash prizes for their participation.
Prizes will be awarded as follows: $500 most participation; $200 second most participation; $100 third most participation.
Individual awards for both high school and middle school youth for all judging categories will also be awarded as follows: First Place $100; Second Place $50; Third Place $25; Honorable Mention $15.
Each winner will receive an award ribbon, a certificate, and a gift card equal to the prize amount. All entries will receive a participation ribbon.
“We are pleased to announce the launch of our second annual youth art month program to showcase the creative talents of Indian River County middle and high school youth,” said Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Director and Manager Philip Lundy. “Cox-Gifford Seawinds Community Outreach is committed to supporting youth in the communities we serve.”
More than five decades ago in 1961, and in cooperation with the National Art Education Association, Youth Art Month was established by the Crayon, Water Color and Craft Institute, Inc. Initially referred to as Children’s Art Month, its goal was to “emphasize the value of participating in art for all children.”
In 1969, the commemoration was renamed Youth Art Month, to include secondary school students.
The Never Forget Tribute and Youth Art Exhibition and Contest is part of many activities and events conducted throughout the year by Cox-Gifford Seawinds Community Outreach, a program of Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home.