The City of Lakeland is proud to announce the launch of the Lakeland Young Artists Spotlight, a new initiative designed to celebrate and showcase the creativity and artistic talent of Lakeland students in grades K–12. The program invites all young artists in the community to submit their work for a chance to be publicly recognized and featured in Lakeland City Hall.
The Lakeland Young Artists Spotlight aims to highlight the importance of arts in our community while strengthening the connection between the City, local schools, and residents. Through this program, student artwork will be displayed in a prominent public setting, offering young artists a unique opportunity to share their creativity with residents and City leadership.
Program Highlights:
- Open to all Lakeland students in grades K–12, including those enrolled in public, private, or homeschool settings
- Three divisions:
- Elementary School Age
- Middle School Age
- High School Age
- One winner will be selected from each division, with a potential Mayor’s Choice Award
How to Participate:
Art teachers in Lakeland schools will be invited to submit 1–3 student works per grade level each semester. Parents of Lakeland students not enrolled in Lakeland schools may submit one piece of artwork per child.
Each submission must include:
- Student name
- School (if applicable) and grade level
- Title of artwork
- Medium used (paint, pencil, digital, etc.)
Selection & Recognition:
A panel of City staff and officials will review all submissions and select winners from each division. Winning artwork will be professionally matted and framed and displayed in Lakeland City Hall for approximately six months as part of the City’s rotating Spring and Fall Spotlight exhibitions.
Selected students and their families will be invited to attend a special recognition ceremony at City Hall, which will include:
- A photo opportunity with the Mayor and Board of Commissioners
- A Certificate of Recognition
- A formal acknowledgment during a Board of Commissioners meeting
Winning artists may also be featured on the City’s website and social media platforms.
Call for Entries:
The City of Lakeland encourages all young artists to participate and share their creativity with the community. Submission details, deadlines, and file upload instructions are available below:
1️⃣ Create your artwork
2️⃣ Take a high-resolution photo and rename it: StudentName_Title_Grade
3️⃣ Complete the submission form (in comments: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakelandtn/posts/calling-all-lakeland-youthshow-off-your-creativity-by-entering-the-inaugural-lak/1362820412541400/) and rename it: StudentName_Title_Grade_Form
4️⃣ Upload both your artwork and form to the appropriate folder (links below)
Lakeland art students — your teacher will submit selected pieces on your behalf.
Lakeland Youth Resident – Grade 1-5: https://www.dropbox.com/request/9gLqBJncMPvd9XoWlzx8
Lakeland Youth Resident – Grade 6-8: https://www.dropbox.com/request/crF5GAepUXgyaqc7YAqf
Lakeland Youth Resident – Grade 9-12: https://www.dropbox.com/request/S9w5Bd7bU85C6vOwJckS
For more information, please contact:
Jasmine Barbee, Executive Administrative Assistant
City of Lakeland
jbarbee@lakealandtn.org, 901-867-2717
