Once a year, students in kindergarten to the 12th grade will showcase their artistic prowess during Youth Art Month at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville.

A national event, Youth Art Month program emphasizes the value of art education for children, encourages support for quality school art programs and promotes art material safety. Youth Art Month also provides a forum for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences not possible in other curriculum subjects.

Sponsored by Kiwanis with Quinlan donating the gallery space, each March students’ artwork is on display from March 17 through April 8. The opening reception and awards ceremony will be from 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, March 17, at 514 Green St. NE in Gainesville.

The Best in Show prize in each category is $2,500 thanks to the Charles J. Thurmond Youth Art scholarship awards. Awards were made recognizing excellence in visual arts, performing arts and writing.

First-place winners from each grade also have the opportunity to compete at the State Youth Art Month competition for more cash awards.

During the past 11 years, Youth Art Month in Gainesville has been important because of the legacy of Charles J. Thurmond and the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville.

Thurmond was a member of the Georgia legislature and Gainesville City Council. He served in many other capacities including as a trustee and chairman of the board of trustees of Brenau University. The Thurmond-McRae Lecture Hall is named in his honor.

He also served as a Kiwanian for more than 60 years. During that time, he was president, lieutenant governor and governor of the Georgia district.

A great Kiwanian and Gainesvillian, Thurmon created a way to “improve the world one child at a time, one community at a time….”

For eligibility or more information, visit www.qvac.org or call 770-536-2575.