On Jan. 18, young children eagerly pointed at their artwork displayed in the Crossroads Mall.
Self-portraits. Colorful abstract paintings. Still lifes.
The children grinned at the camera as if to say, “That’s mine!”
More than just a sense of pride, art helps kids develop creativity and cultural awareness. That’s why Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota holds a local Fine Arts Exhibit each year, in coordination with Boys & Girls Club of America’s National Fine Arts Exhibit program, which brings together more than 4,000 clubs across the country.
This year’s local exhibit at the Crossroads Mall, on display Jan. 15 through 21, featured more than 150 art entries by more than 130 artists from our 18 KIDSTOP and Club locations. Art featured the categories of monochromatic drawing, multicolored drawing, watercolor, pastel, oil/acrylic, mixed media, printmaking, collage and group project.
At the awards ceremony on Jan. 18th, 21 selected pieces from Central Minnesota advanced for regional competition, which will be hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan.
From regionals, a limited number will be sent to BGCA’s Atlanta headquarters for judging at the national level. A total of 33 national winners will be named, and their artwork will be displayed at special events throughout the year.
For a full list of local winners, see the Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota website.
The program is about more than identifying talent. The Boys & Girls Club aims to develop young people’s creativity while encouraging artistic skills and cultural enrichment.
The exhibit is no longer on display, but you can find photos of the artwork and young artists on the Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota Facebook page.
Art is just one facet of the Boys & Girls Club. Our mission is to help young people reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Put simply, young people need to know that someone cares about them.
More than 25 nationally tested and proven programs are available in the areas of education, the environment, health, the arts, careers, drug and alcohol prevention, leadership development, and athletics. The Boys & Girls Club has been sponsoring these programs nationally since 1974.
For more information about what we do or how you can get involved, contact us on our website.