Emerging Artist Program

April 1-30, 2024

9:00 am - 6:00 pm

From the official website for the Emerging Artist Program: 

The Emerging Artist program was created to recognize the talent of young local artists and to offer them the prospect of being a part of an international award-winning fine art festival each May. The program is an innovative and resourceful tool that mentors students in the art world. Students are encouraged to express themselves artistically and learn the process of exhibiting. 

The uniqueness of Cottonwood Art Festival’s Emerging Artists program is that it is only available to sophomore, junior, and senior high school students within the Richardson community. The knowledge they receive from this experience is invaluable and is a respectable introduction to a career in art. Interested students are required to submit a formal application, an artist statement, and five images of their work. Each application is then reviewed by a jury of professionals in the art industry, and total of ten students are selected to participate in the program. 

It is through the generosity of our sponsor, Neighborhood Credit Union that students are afforded an opportunity to participate in a month-long exhibit at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and sell their work at the Cottonwood Art Festival alongside professional artists. Emerging Artists also have the opportunity to win placement awards and scholarships.