RIVERSIDE – During the first weeks and months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the initial Art Connects virtual competition organized by the Riverside County Office of Education helped students channel their creative energy, leading to more than 1,300 original submissions.
As 2024 gets underway, the virtual student arts competition is back to engage students in elementary and middle schools in five different age divisions and four different categories. Age divisions are Transitional Kindergarten/Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarden; 1st and 2nd grades; 3rd and 4th grades; 5th and 6th grades and 7th and 8th grades.
The four categories are visual art, dance, theater and film.
Art Connects visual art submissions closed on Monday, Jan. 22. Winners will be announced Monday, Jan. 29.
Art Connects dance submissions open Monday, Feb. 12. Art Connects theater submissions open March 11. And finally, Art Connects film submissions open April 8.
All submissions open on the first day at 8 a.m. and close on the final day at 5 p.m.
The competition is open to all students in grades TK-8 attending public, charter, private, parochial or home school programs in Riverside County. For each of the four categories, elementary and middle school students can submit their contributions via links on the Art Connects web page at http://www.rcoe.us/art-connects.
Submissions can be made by parents/guardians, or by teachers via the Google Form on the Riverside County Office of Education Art Connects web page once the submission windows open for each category. Limits are up to five entries per student, and 10 entries per teacher.
First, second and third place winners will receive plaques and have their work highlighted on the Riverside County Office of Education website, http://www.rcoe.us. Certificates will recognize multiple Honorable Mention submissions.
For additional information on Art Connects or additional arts programs and resources in Riverside County schools, contact Louisa Higgins, visual and performing arts administrator of Riverside County Office of Education, at lhiggins@rcoe.us.
Submitted by Riverside County Office of Education.
