Educating children about the arts, and offering them access to gallery and exhibition space, has always been a key component of our mission at the Morean Arts Center.

Since 1997, the Morean has worked with Pinellas County schools to create Word + Image: Arts and Education Partnership. The Morean hosts four of these juried exhibitions each year, including work from students at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Each year, students are challenged to create works of art based on a particular theme, and to incorporate a written statement within the piece.

This year’s theme is MY FAVORITE THING. Students were encouraged to follow this prompt: “Showcase something that brings you joy, excitement or comfort: a beloved pet, a treasured toy, a favorite place, a cherished memory, or even a hobby that you adore. Think about why this particular thing is your favorite. What feelings does it evoke? What memories or experiences are attached to it?”

Limited only by their imaginations, these children’s creations are sometimes hilarious, often heartfelt, and always extraordinary.

WORD + IMAGE SCHEDULE FOR  2024 – 2025:

November 4 – 30, 2023: High School Exhibition

December 7, 2024 – January 18, 2025: Middle School Exhibition

January 25 – March 8, 2025: Elementary School Exhibition (A-M)

March 15 – April 26, 2025: Elementary School Exhibition (N-W)