Young Hall County artists seeking to gain recognition as well as reward for their creative capabilities will have their chance during the 2016 Kiwanis Visual Arts Showcase.

The Kiwanis Club of Gainesville invites middle and high school students a chance to receive county and statewide recognition for their artwork and win scholarship funds to help finance their college education.

The artwork of all participants will be on display at Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, in Gainesville during the competition. A reception will be from 5:30-7 p.m. March 18, at the Quinlan to showcase the artists and their work.

The Kiwanis Club will announce its three scholarship winners with their "Best of Show" awards at noon May 3, during the club’s awards luncheon in the First Baptist Church banquet hall.

To enter the art competition, all contestants must be students in good standing with their respective school or home-school organization and be registered in middle or high school in Hall County.

Students must complete an application and submit it with their artwork March 10 at the Quinlan. Entry forms are available at www.quinlanartscenter.org/youth-art-month-2016.html.

Work in the following media will be accepted: painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, metal work, graphic design, mixed media and crafts.

The top four artists from each grade will receive ribbons during the reception at the Quinlan. First-place winners from each grade, and an honorable mention contestant, will be submitted as entrants in the state competition.

Scholarships for Best of Show will be awarded to 10th-, 11th- and 12th-graders only. Prize winners will take home $2,500 for first, $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third. A contestant may not win more than one award.

Scholarships awarded in the county competition, as well as the state competition, will be presented in the form of a check issued to a college or university of the student’s choice.

The three scholarship winners and their instructors will be recognized at the Kiwanis awards luncheon. Parents of the scholarship winners are also invited to the Kiwanis Awards Luncheon. The winning artwork will be on display at the luncheon.

At the state competition, The Kiwanis Memorial Foundation is providing $5,000 in scholarships to the Best of Show winners. Ribbons will be awarded to first, second and third and honorable mention from each grade.

For more information, contact Kelly Lee at kelly.lee@wfadvisors.com or 770-532-6361 or Paula Lindner at paula.lindner@quinlanartscenter.org or call 770-536-2575.