18th Annual Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition Returns to the Parthenon January 23-February 28

NASHVILLE, TN – The Parthenon, Centennial Park Conservancy, Metro Nashville Parks & Recreation, and Tennessee Art Education Association announced today that the 18th annual Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition will return to the Parthenon this winter.

Selected student works in Ceramics, Computer Graphics, Drawing, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Video will be on display in the Parthenon from January 23 to February 28. An opening reception and awards ceremony honoring the selected artists will take place on January 22 at the Parthenon from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with winners in each category announced throughout the evening, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The 187 winners were selected from more than 830 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.

The judging panel included: Benjy Davies, Associate Dean of the Watkins School of Art at Belmont University; Brandon Williams, Assistant Professor of Printmaking at Watkins; and LaKesha Lee, 2025-2027 Faculty Fellow at Watkins.

“Each year, we are in awe of the quality of work submitted by Middle Tennessee students,” said Davies. “We are so proud of and impressed by the immense talent across disciplines showcased by these students. The judging process is no small feat, and we are honored to be part of recognizing these incredible young people year after year.”

This is the 18th year the Tennessee Art Education Association has held the regional competition and exhibition, and the fourth year it has been hosted at the Parthenon.

“It is such a privilege for our team at The Parthenon and Centennial Park Conservancy to encourage and inspire the next generation of artists in Middle Tennessee,” says Parthenon Curator Jennifer Richardson. “We are so grateful for the Tennessee Art Education Association and Belmont’s generous partnership and scholarship to create meaningful, tangible opportunities for these young artists. With more than 800 entries this year, we know how hard these students, teachers, and parents worked. This exhibit is one of my favorites every year, not only because of the depth and diversity of talent, but also because it brings together so many families together to celebrate the work of each student.”

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 in Todd Hall at Middle Tennessee State University later this summer.  

The Artists Reception will be held at The Parthenon from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on January 22. Admission is free, and guests should RSVP via Eventbrite.

For more information on the exhibit, visit nashvilleparthenon.com/events/mtrsae-exhibition. Exhibitions and educational programming at the Parthenon are underwritten by Centennial Park Conservancy and its generous partners, including Amazon, Advance Financial Foundation, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Dettwiller Foundation, HCA Healthcare Foundation, Jackson National Life Insurance Company, Old Town Trolley, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Sandra Schatten Foundation, The Memorial Foundation, and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Subject matter of Parthenon exhibitions does not necessarily represent the opinion of partners or sponsors. For more information, please visit conservancyonline.com.

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 $15 for adults; $10 for seniors 62 and over; and $10 for children 4 to 17. Children under 4 are admitted free. Centennial Park Conservancy members receive free museum admission.

ABOUT CENTENNIAL PARK CONSERVANCY

Centennial Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve, enhance, and share the Parthenon and Centennial Park so all future generations may benefit from these cultural and enriching landmarks. The organization works in partnership with Metro Parks to protect and revitalize the Park’s green space, underwrite the Parthenon’s exhibition and educational programs, and present accessible and inclusive community programming to sustain the Park’s vibrancy.

ABOUT THE PARTHENON

The Parthenon, owned and operated by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County’s Parks and Recreation Department, is the city of Nashville’s longest-lived art museum. Opened as a museum in 1931, its galleries are the home of the distinguished Cowan Collection of American art and feature several temporary exhibitions per year. The galleries are housed on the lower level of the Parthenon, the world’s only full-scale replica of the fifth-century BCE temple in Athens, Greece. Beloved symbol of civic pride to Nashvillians since its original manifestation as the art building for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897, it welcomes hundreds of thousands of Nashvillians and visitors to the city per year.

ABOUT METRO PARKS AND RECREATION

The Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of facilities and programs throughout Davidson County. Currently, Metro Parks oversees nearly 16,000 acres of open space, including 189 parks and 110 miles of greenways. It is the department’s mission to sustainably and equitably provide everyone in Nashville with an inviting network of parks and greenways that offer health, wellness and quality of life through recreation, conservation and community.

The Metro Board of Parks and Recreation does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, or disability in admission, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. For TTY (relay service), call 1-800-849-0299. For questions, concerns, or requests regarding the American Disabilities Act call 862-8400.

###