Governor’s Award for Musical
Excellence
Play It Again, Arkansas! Is
accepting nominations for senior musicians for the 2026 Governor’s Award for
Musical Excellence. The Governor’s Award for Musical Excellence is given to 100
exceptional Arkansas high school seniors during the spring semester each year.
Our aim is to acknowledge and reward seniors who demonstrate outstanding
commitment to music, regardless of their school’s size or location.
Additionally, we hope to inspire younger students to continue their musical
education.
Only one nomination is allowed per
school.
Submit your nomination HERE by
Friday, March 20, 2026.
Questions should be directed to
Kevin Beirne at Kevin.Beirne@ade.arkansas.gov or
(501) 683-0401.
Governor's Young Artist
Competition
The Governor’s Mansion Association
announces the annual statewide competition and juried exhibition for Arkansas’
talented high school artists. Beginning March 16, 2026, high school students
from across Arkansas are invited to submit their drawings, paintings,
illustrations, ceramics, and mixed media assemblages ONLINE for the 2026
competition theme, “Our American Story - A View from the Arkansas Lens.” The
deadline to submit artwork is March 31, 2026. All public, private, charter, and
home-schooled high school students (Grades 9-12) who reside in Arkansas are
eligible to submit artwork.
The collective goal of the competition is to inspire our state’s young visual
artists by providing them with a platform for their work. A juried selection of
submitted art will be displayed at the Governor’s Mansion during the months of
April and May 2026.
Important submission deadlines and guidelines are available in the 2026
Governor’s Young Artists Competition Guidelines.
The Governor’s Mansion Association will present Awards and other recognitions
at the 2026 Governor’s Young Artist Awards Reception in May.
Questions regarding the competition should be directed to Cassie Jerry, Events
Manager, Arkansas Governor's Mansion at Cassie.Jerry@governor.arkansas.gov or
Heather Allmendinger, Secretary, Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association Board
of Directors, at 501-626-5809/hdallmendinger@gmail.com.