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

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

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:20pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring a repeating pattern of a paint palette, representing the creativity and artistic expression of young students.The Des Moines Arts Festival celebrates the vibrant artistic talents of local students through its annual Student Art Exhibition.Des Moines Today

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. Each Central Iowa elementary or secondary school may submit up to four works of art created in the 2025 – 2026 school year.

Why it matters

The Student Art Exhibition is one of the Festival's most cherished programs, celebrating the creativity of talented students while highlighting schools from across Central Iowa.

The details

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 entry period for schools to submit artwork is open now.
  • The deadline to submit the School and Student Artwork Information form is April 26, 2026.
  • The Des Moines Arts Festival will take place June 26 - 28, 2026.

The players

Des Moines Arts Festival®

An annual arts festival held in Des Moines, Iowa that features visual art, music, and other cultural events.

GreenState Credit Union

A credit union that is sponsoring the Student Art Exhibition at the Des Moines Arts Festival.

Stephen King

The Executive Director of the Des Moines Arts Festival.

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What they’re saying

“'It celebrates the creativity of talented students while highlighting schools from across Central Iowa.'”

— Stephen King, Executive Director of the Des Moines Arts Festival

What’s next

Schools have until April 26, 2026 to submit the School and Student Artwork Information form to participate in the 2026 Student Art Exhibition at the Des Moines Arts Festival.

The takeaway

The Des Moines Arts Festival's Student Art Exhibition provides a valuable platform to showcase the artistic talents of K-12 students in central Iowa, fostering creativity and recognition for young artists in the community.