High School Exhibition

The art and design program in the College of Art and Architecture at the University of Idaho sponsors an annual High School Art Exhibition at Ridenbaugh Hall on campus every February. Each year a theme is chosen to inspire the students and promote creativity. The exhibition coincides with the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, when over 10,000 high school students are on campus.

Approximately 150 students from 25 high schools around the state participate in the exhibition each year. Mailing tubes containing entry forms, a promotion poster and prepaid return mailing labels are sent to every Idaho high school. The tubes are then filled with student work and sent to the University. This eliminates much of the expense for participating schools, many of which are in rural areas and have limited budgets.

University of Idaho students are actively involved in the exhibition installation and publicity. A committee of jurors selects award winners and over $800 in gift certificates for art supplies is given to the winners to encourage future creativity.

The program benefits students beyond validating and honoring their work. It increases interaction between high school art teachers and the University of Idaho, and also develops awareness on the part of many Idaho communities of the talents of their high school artists and teachers