2025 Visual Arts Exhibition

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

We look forward to the exhibition on May 2!

The Archdiocesan Office for the Mission of Catholic Education is excited to host its second annual Catholic School Visual Arts Exhibition. We invite Archdiocesan Catholic school students in grades 7-12 to share their artistic talents and spread the beauty of our Catholic faith through artwork around the theme of “The Saints.”

Judges will select finalists to be showcased at a public visual arts exhibition and reception on May 2 at the Hoedeman Gallery of Sacred Art at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul with Bishop Michael Izen. Awards and prizes will be presented to students, and the finalists’ artwork will serve as the summer exhibit in the Hoedeman Gallery of Sacred Art. 

The May 2 event marks a new collaboration between OMCE, UST’s Office for Mission and the university’s interdisciplinary Claritas Initiative, which seeks to reclaim and illuminate beauty, goodness and truth.

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GRADE-LEVEL CATEGORIES

• 7th-8th grade students
• 9^th-10^th grade students
• 11th-12th grade students

ELIGIBLE ARTWORK CATEGORIES

• Ceramics
• Drawing (pencil, pen and ink, charcoal) 
• Painting (watercolor, acrylic, oil paint)
• Photography
• Sculpture 
• Textile

SUBMISSION RULES

For Schools

• Each school can submit an unlimited number of entries.
• School art teachers may submit entries on behalf of parents/guardians.

For Artists

• Work must be completed by a 7^th-12^th grade student currently enrolled in a Catholic school of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
• Artwork must have been completed within the last 12 months.
• Artwork can be completely original or a copy from another work or photograph.
• Artwork must be signed by the artist.
• Artwork must include a label, typed and printed, with the following information:
  • Student’s first and last name
  • Student’s grade
  • Student’s school 
  • School city
  • Title
  • Size
  • Medium

On 2-dimensional artwork, the label must be securely taped to the back of the piece; on 3-dimensional artwork, the label must be taped to the base of the piece.

• Artwork must be framed or matted and ready to hang or display.
• For 2-dimensional pieces, artwork must not exceed 36 inches — including the frame — on any side.  For 3-dimensional pieces, artwork must not exceed 36 inches in any dimension and must not exceed 50 pounds.
• 3-dimensional artwork must be self-supporting.
• All artwork must be content appropriate and use the theme “The Saints” to be considered.
• Please notify your school art department/art teacher about your participation and artwork submission.
• All students and parents/guardians will need to sign a waiver upon submission.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

April 4, 2025

SUBMISSION DETAILS

CLOSED