During the month of March, the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, will showcase Hall County’s young talents with the 10th annual Charles J. Thurmond Youth Art Scholarship Awards.

Hall County and Gainesville middle and high school students were invited to participate in the 2013 Kiwanis Visual Arts Showcase. Scholarship awards will be awarded for Best of Show for 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade artists.

An opening reception for the showcase will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. March 15 at the visual arts center,

514 Green St. NE, in Gainesville.

"Youth Art Month is an exhibition in which we have the opportunity to display the plethora of talent our local youth possesses. It’s an inspiring testament to the community that art is still living and breathing in our schools and we are so proud to showcase it," said Paula Lindner, the Quinlan’s assistant director.

The competition provides an opportunity for middle and high school students to receive county and statewide recognition for their artwork as well as earn scholarship funds to help finance their college educations.

Students who win at the county level will compete at the state level, where the Kiwanis Memorial Foundation is providing $5,000 in scholarship awards to the Best of Show winners

Lindner said a big "thank you" also goes to sponsors Tommy and Chantal Bagwell.

Students entered paintings, drawing, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, metal work, graphic design, mixed media and crafts.

The scholarship winners will be honored at the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville Awards Luncheon, scheduled for noon on May 7 at the Elks Club.

The show will remain on display at the center until April 13.

For more information on the show, visit www.quinlanartscenter.org, gainesvillekiwanis.org or call 770-536-2575.