The Latest
February 17, 2025

Where Every Family Matters

Middle Tennessee Student Art Exhibition Returns to the Parthenon

The award-winning artwork will be displayed on Level 2 with the Athena statue beginning Jan. 23 through March 1.

Middle Tennessee has some serious young talent when it comes to the arts — and what better way to see it first hand at the 17th annual Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition, returning to the Parthenon in Nashville’s Centennial Park from January 23 to March 1.

Selected works in Ceramics, Computer Graphics, Drawing, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Video will be on display.

“There were 778 entries this year for the judges to review, before selecting the 187 winners,” says Parthenon Curator Jennifer Richardson. “We appreciate the teachers and parents who put in so much time and effort to nurture the artists and submit their applications. The award-winning artwork will be displayed on Level 2 with the Athena statue. I love that this exhibit draws in so many families, and the timing works perfectly with our STEAM Expeditions, which bring approximately 2,000 sixth-grade students from 17 MNPS schools to The Parthenon.”

The 188 winners were selected from close to 800 works submitted by students in grades 6-12 from Middle Tennessee public and private schools and home-schooled students. A panel of judges from Watkins School of Art at Belmont University evaluated the submissions in a blind process, selecting First, Second and Third Place winners and Honorable Mentions for every grade level in each artistic category.

Overall winners were chosen as well, in the categories of Best of Show, Best of High School, Best of Middle School, Best of Ceramics, Best of Computer Graphics, Best of Drawing, Best of Mixed Media, Best of Painting, Best of Photography, Best of Printmaking, Best of Sculpture, and Best of Video. All works were judged based on criteria including originality, technical skill and emergence of a personal vision or voice.

This year the Watkins School of Art at Belmont University is offering scholarships to the sophomores, juniors and seniors who win the “best of” award in each category, as well as to the “Best of High School” winner.

In addition to being displayed as part of the Parthenon exhibition this winter, the Best Of winners will also be displayed in the Best of the Best Statewide Exhibition, which will be held July 13 – 18 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

The Artists Reception will be held at The Parthenon from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on January 23. Admission is free, and guests may RSVP via Eventbrite. For more information on the exhibit, visit nashvilleparthenon.com/events/mtrsae-exhibition.

PARTHENON HOURS & ADMISSION

The Parthenon is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the Parthenon is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors 62 and over; and $8 for children 4 to 17. Children under 4 are admitted free. Centennial Park Conservancy members receive free museum admission.

 

MORE NASHVILLE PARENT NEWS!

 

About the Author

Michael Aldrich

Michael Aldrich is Nashville Parent's Managing Editor and a Middle Tennessee arts writer. He and his wife, Alison, are the proud parents of 4-year-old Ezra and baby Norah.