by Noella Noelophile®
Where does inspiration start…and carry on into a future creative career?
One answer may be happening this afternoon at CRAFTED, courtesy of San Pedro Art Association.
This afternoon, Sunday, June 4th at 2:00, SPAA hosts a special artists’ reception, for their 2017 “Harbor-Wide All Grades Student Art Competition Exhibition”.
In this annual community event, SPAA does what they’ve been doing best since 1936–supports and encourages creative talent. 
Students from grade school, high school and middle school will have their work on display, SPAA will award cash prizes in each age group for First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention.
There’s another category, as well. Attendees get to vote, for the “People’s Choice” award. Here is a past “People’s Choice” award winner; the artist, at the time, was five years old.
One of my favorite features of SPAA’s yearly student competition, is the fact that every artist’s talent is honored–not just those whose entries win prizes. Each student receives a certificate of participation, along with a drawing set.
In addition, each student’s work gets framed professionally. Steve Magee, of Steve Magee Framing, does the honors. He carefully selects frames that complement the theme of each entry–and then, the students’ work remains on exhibition at CRAFTED throughout the summer months.
Want to be part of an exciting time for some gifted future artists? Check out CRAFTED this afternoon, from 2 to 5, for the ceremony, People’s Choice voting and refreshments.
And who knows, twenty years from now, as you meet a professional exhibiting artist at a gallery, you may hear that person say, “Well, one summer when I was a kid, SPAA had this student art competition…”