Annually, the Maine Arts Commission partners with Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) and Maine’s two Congressional offices to highlight exemplary high school student artists. Almost one thousand Maine works of art were submitted this year to a national youth competition, the Scholastic Arts & Literary Awards, organized locally by MECA&D.

Coming from all over the state, 230 students received awards through the Scholastic competition.

The 44 works on display in the Maine Excellence in Arts Education exhibition at the Burton R. Cross Building at the Capitol Complex were selected from those Scholastics winners by a separate jury and represent the breadth of creativity of high school students from around the state. Two works, one from each Congressional district, were also selected to be displayed at the US Capitol for a year through the Congressional Art Awards program. Runners up are included in the Maine Excellence exhibition.

All these student artists thrive through the careful and dedicated mentoring of their art teachers, along with the encouragement of their friends and families. The Maine Arts Commission is honored to share this inspiring work with Capitol complex visitors. The exhibition at the Cross building will be on display March 12 – May 30, 2025.

A ceremony in Portland on March 8th, 2025, brought together these students, teachers and families to celebrate their accomplishments and encourage their continued creativity.