BC Lower Mainland Celebrates Awardees of 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards!
- Art Village Langley
- Apr 20
- 5 min read
All the students who submitted to the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards worked tirelessly to craft their unique voices and artistic techniques. Their artworks have not only stood out but also touched the hearts and minds of those who had the privilege of reviewing them including the 2026 juror panel. This year, on February 21, Art Village Visual Art School had the honour of hosting the third BC Lower Mainland regional ceremony for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards at one of the auditoriums at Cineplex Cinemas Coquitlam and VIP. We are so proud to highlight these remarkable students and recognize their hard work.
Background
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, established in 1923 and based in New York, have a rich history of celebrating teen creativity, with notable alumni including Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andy Warhol. For decades, the Awards have served as a launchpad for emerging artists and writers, helping them secure opportunities for national recognition, exhibitions, publications, and scholarships in recognition of their talent and hard work.
The Scholastic Awards prioritize and spotlight work that challenges boundaries and communicates new and interesting ideas. Art holds so much power to change and disrupt; it is important and needed in the world. Here in our region, we are proud to report that just under 1000 works were submitted this year, which is about a 40% increase in submissions since we began our partnership with the Scholastic Awards. We hope to carry on with this increasing growth so that more students from our region get recognition as years go by!
The Juror Panel
Blind adjudication has also been a core tenet of the awards since day one. Work is evaluated on its own merits, with jurors having no information about the identity of the young artist or writer. Just as importantly, the three criteria used to select work are:
Originality
Technical Skill
Emergence of a Personal Voice or Vision
We couldn’t have done it without an excellent panel of judges who bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, different perspectives, skillsets, and lived experiences. They range from community educators to post-secondary instructors, from artists practicing ceramics and design to painting and animation. For our adjudication this year, we held two sessions: one in-person and one online to accommodate our jurors who live all throughout the Lower Mainland. One privilege of being an art moderator this year was engaging with these jurors, seeing the submitted artworks, and witnessing the conversations that emerged.
American Visions Award
The American Visions Award is a prestigious honor presented to students in each of the different geographic regions of the Scholastic Awards. Jurors from each region can select up to five works to be American Visions Award Nominees. To be nominated for the American Visions Award, participants must first earn a Gold Key in their region. These nominated works are then sent to be reviewed by national judges to receive American Visions Medals. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards honour works that display originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. Regional jurors also consider various elements that showcase talent and diversity, such as different art mediums, viewpoints, and backgrounds.
Art Village's Unique Award: Studio Spotlight
Once all judging was finalized, the team at Art Village, led by myself and other instructors, had the privilege of selecting some artworks that stood out to our studio which we considered worth spotlighting. These artists are awarded for creating outstanding work that pushes the boundaries of traditional art or for exploring their own creative landscape with passion and innovation. The creative journey is ongoing, and we were so impressed by the commitment to craft as exemplified by all the submitted works. This year, we provided Opus Art Supplies gift cards to accompany our Studio Spotlight Award certificates.
In addition, after announcing the Studio Spotlights, we showcased an animation by Xichen Derek Yuan, titled Inner City. He was awarded a Portfolio Gold Key and a Studio Spotlight for his bold and expressive brushwork and compelling narrative.
Thank you to Educators, Family, and Friends!
We want to take a moment to thank the individuals who instructed, mentored, encouraged, and perhaps even nudged or required some students to submit their wonderful works to this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: the educators! During the final moments of the ceremony, we distributed honourary educator pins from Scholastic Art and Writing Awards to all the educators and mentors who attended.
Congratulations to all of BC's National Medalists!
As of March 25, the results for the 2026 National Medalists of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are out! Click the link to view the awardees. These students will have the chance to travel to New York City in June to receive their awards in person, alongside other Gold Medalists, educators, and affiliates (like us here at Art Village) from North America, at the National Ceremony, where there will be a range of celebratory activities and an exhibition. Major applause!
2027: Calling All Young Artists!
I would like to extend an invitation to any young aspiring artists you, the reader, may know to participate in this exceptional program next year. Whether you're an arts instructor in a public school or private art studio, this message is for you and your students, grades 7 to 12!
I hope you will consider incorporating this opportunity into your studio or classroom. Please feel free to reach out if you are interested in learning more or would like support in guiding your students through the application process. We, Art Village, look forward to celebrating the creative talents of our young artists with you this year!
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