CONWAY, Arkansas (December 5, 2023) — The Windgate Museum of Art at Hendrix College (WMA) has opened a call for art submissions from Arkansas students in kindergarten through 12th grade for The Moon and Beyond: A Juried Exhibition of Arkansas K-12 Student Space Art.

Online submissions are due no later than January 19, 2024, at 5 p.m.

Beginning in late January of 2024, the WMA will begin celebrating the total eclipse of the sun that will occur on April 8 with an entire semester of space-based educational programming and exhibitions.

“There’s no better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than by opening our Window Gallery to the K-12 students of Arkansas,” said Christian Cutler, director of the museum.

The museum has contacted art teachers throughout the state to spread the word to their students. The WMA is accepting submissions of 2D artworks in any medium that in some way depict an eclipse, the cosmos, the solar system, or human interaction with space. Submitted artworks will be juried, and a total of 80 works will be selected from across all grades. The WMA staff asks that no original pieces be sent. They will instead collect digital submissions and print them for display.

Student artwork may be submitted either by the student’s teacher or parent/guardian, and there is a limit of three submissions per student. There is no limit to the number of students who can submit work.

“While some students may want to work on a project on their own time, we are also hearing about teachers who plan to integrate this contest into their lesson plans for early next semester,” Cutler said. “The more students who participate, the better. Educating everyone is at the core of what we aim to do at the WMA.”

Students whose artwork is selected, as well as their families, will be honored at a reception on Saturday, Feb. 3, shortly after the exhibition opening. Exhibiting students will receive an award certificate and a limited-edition eclipse poster.

Visit www.windgatemuseum.org/events for the complete submission guidelines and entry form.

The WMA is housed on the first floor of the Miller Creative Quad, Building 3 on the current Hendrix campus map. Exhibitions and programs at the Windgate Museum of Art at Hendrix College are free and open to all. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters. However, the Window Gallery, where the student art from around the state will be displayed, faces the outside of the building and is available for viewing 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

About the Windgate Museum of Art

The Windgate Museum of Art is the art museum located on the campus of Hendrix College. With a vision to be the premier teaching art museum in Arkansas, the Windgate presents outstanding art exhibitions, compelling educational programs, and invigorating social activities for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus. Free and open to all, the museum uses hands-on experiences to train students in all facets of museum work, including curatorial research, collection management, educational and social programming, marketing and communications, as well as all aspects of exhibition research, planning, installation, and evaluation. The Windgate Museum of Art is made possible with major support from the Windgate Foundation and the Alice L. Walton Foundation.

About Hendrix College

Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts colleges for academic quality, engaged learning opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.

“… Through engagement that links the classroom with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice, and sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.” —Hendrix College Statement of Purpose