Synergy showcases gifted K-12 art students alongside their teachers and current art interns/student-teachers from East Tennessee. See the results of the artistic student-teacher synergy that happens every day in our schools! Awards and scholarships are presented to encourage further development of these art students’ artistic aptitude. Number of Submissions: This application allows up to 10 student artwork applications PER ART EDUCATOR (no more than two per student). Art Educators may also submit 2 pieces of their own work for consideration in the Educator Exhibition.
-Complementary framing of accepted student work by ExpressFrame. All work is framed in a black frame.-
Calendar
● December 1, 2025: Application Open
● January 7, 2026: Application Deadline
● January 20, 2026: Notification of Acceptance Date
● January 26 - 31, 2026: Student artwork delivered or shipped to ExpressFrame [Store Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am-6 pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm] Knox County Teachers may also drop off/ship
student work to Heather Casteel’s Office for framing by January 23rd.
● March 2, 2026: (11 am - 7 pm) Student 3D Work and all Educator Work Drop-Off Date at the
Clayton Center for the Arts. Artwork not dropped off by 7pm on March 3rd will not be included
in the show.
○ Please contact Dogwood Arts to arrange alternative drop accommodations if necessary.
● March 3, 2026: Exhibition Installation
● March 4 - 26, 2026: Exhibition Open (Monday-Friday 9 am-6 pm)
● March 26, 2026: Closing Reception, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm at Clayton Center for the Arts (Awards at
6:30 pm)
● March 26, 2026: Artwork is picked up by artists/educators at end of Closing Reception
Due to feedback, we have adjusted our application dates to help facilitate educators schedules. We
hope this adjustment is beneficial to your schedules.
Terms & Conditions
GUIDELINES & REQUIREMENTS
Open to all student artists in grades K-12 in the East Tennessee region [living in the Eastern Time Zone
of Tennessee]. Teachers should select up to a total of ten entries to submit in the juried competition.
Submit only work completed within the last school year. Entries must be original works in the following
categories: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Ceramics, Photography, Computer Graphics, Mixed-Media,
and Printmaking. The maximum allowed size is 22” X 28”. Weight is not to exceed 50 lbs. Student
artwork does not need matting before submitting an application. 3-D works should be sturdy and stable
or otherwise secured to a base. The juror reserves the right to disqualify any work not suitably
presented.
As per instructions from the framer, all 2-D student artwork may be submitted without frames or mats.
This will make it simpler for the gallery to prepare the selected pieces for exhibition (frames will become
the property of the student artists at the conclusion of the exhibition, compliments of ExpressFrame).
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
Awards include one Best-of-Show Award and First Place awards for each grade level as designated by
the juror(s), whose decision is final.
● Best of Show receives $200 for the student and $100 for the teacher
● First Place in Grades K-12 receive $50 for one student in each grade level
● Awarded works may be used in Dogwood Arts publicity materials
● Complimentary custom framing of student’s artwork by ExpressFrame
APPLICATION
Entries are limited to two artworks per art educator (10 for student work, 2 for personal work). Choosing
to sell your artwork is strictly optional and does not affect the adjudication process. Diptychs and
triptychs are considered one work.
● Number of Submissions: This application allows up to 10 student artwork applications PER
ART EDUCATOR (no more than two per student). Art Educators may also submit 2 pieces of
their own work for consideration in the Educator Exhibition. Educators will be able to edit their
application by logging into their account through January 6, 2026.
12 submissions does not ensure 12 accepted works
Shipment & Delivery of Work
Works may be shipped or delivered to ExpressFrame for framing [119 N. Cedar Bluff Road in the
Commons Shopping Center, Knoxville] between January 26 - 31, 2026. Knox County Teachers may
also drop off/ship student work to Heather Casteel’s Office for framing by January 23rd. 3D work to be
dropped off at Clayton Center for the Arts on March 2nd, 2026, 11 am-7 pm.
Return of Work
Exhibited work must be picked up at the Clayton Center for the Arts following the awards ceremony
on Thursday, March 26th.
LIABILITY
Receipt of the completed application form constitutes your agreement with all conditions established in
the prospectus. Consent to reproduce works photographically for promotional purposes is assumed to
be granted unless stated otherwise. Care will be taken when handling the works. The artist does not
hold Dogwood Arts or its partners responsible for damage or loss that may occur in connection with the
Synergy Art Exhibition.
JUROR & SELECTION: TBD
SALES
Students may sell their work during the exhibition period. However, the work must remain on site for the
duration of the exhibition. Every effort is made to promote sales. All sales are handled by Dogwood
Arts. There is no commission split for student artwork. Work is NOT required to be for sale.
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Raina Nief at raina@dogwoodarts.com or by phone at 865-637-4561 (or) Synergy
Chairperson Jim Dodson at jdodson@ortn.edu if you should have additional questions.
