Des Moines Arts Festival® Welcomes Entries for the 2026 Student Art Exhibition

K – 12th grade schools encouraged to submit artwork for 2026 Festival

(Des Moines, IA) – The Des Moines Arts Festival® has opened the entry period for schools to submit artwork for the Student Art Exhibition presented by GreenState Credit Union. The award-winning program spotlights the creativity of children attending K – 12 schools in central Iowa through special exhibitions of their work. It is designed to encourage children to pursue their passion for the visual arts and to recognize student and teacher achievements and artistic talent.

Each Central Iowa elementary or secondary school may submit up to four works of art created in the 2025 – 2026 school year. The artwork will be displayed at the Student Art Exhibit during the Des Moines Arts Festival, June 26 – 28, 2026. In addition to the Exhibit, the student artists will be recognized at the Visionary Artist Ceremony held on the Main Stage. Following the Festival, the artwork will be displayed at select GreenState Credit Union locations until September, when the youth artists will be able to pick
up their artwork at a special reception.

The Student Art Exhibition is one of the Festival’s most cherished programs,” said Stephen King, Executive Director of the Des Moines Arts Festival. “It celebrates the creativity of talented students while highlighting schools from across Central Iowa.”

To participate, schools must submit the School and Student Artwork Information form by April 26, 2026. The form can be found at desmoinesartsfestival.org/studentartexhibition.