(New York, NY – March 18, 2026)–The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the nonprofit presenter of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) have announced the opening of the eleventh annual New York City Scholastic Art & Writing Awards exhibition at The Met’s Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education. This special exhibition features the 316 works of art and 300 works of writing that received top regional awards—the Gold Key—by New York City-based participants of the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the country's longest-running and most prestigious award and recognition program for creative teens. This year, 4,000 teens in grades 7–12 entered over 17,000 works, representing over 200 schools in all five boroughs. Gold Key winning works are eligible to receive national honors through a second round of judging, which can provide additional opportunities for exhibition and publication as well as access to scholarships.
To learn more about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, visit: www.artandwriting.org
The exhibition, Filling in the Gaps, at The Met is free and open to the public during regular Museum hours from March 27 through May 17, 2026. To celebrate the student writers and artists included in the exhibit, the Museum will host a private opening reception for students, family members, educators, and friends on Friday, March 27, at 6 p.m. with remarks by Christopher Wisniewski, Executive Director, Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, and Heidi Holder, Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Chair of Education, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Keynote remarks will be made by award-winning students.
“The Metropolitan Museum of Art is proud to host the New York City Scholastic Art & Writing Awards exhibition this year,” said Holder. “Our young artists, with the support of teachers, families, and communities, have devoted significant time to exploring ideas and refining their creative processes to create the artworks presented here. These paintings, drawings, sculptures, and video works express the collective ideas of the next generation of artists as they engage thoughtfully with the world around them, and share their vision for a hopeful future.”
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers’ mission is to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their visionary work to the world through opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships. Former winners include artists Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, Kay WalkingStick, and John Baldessari—all represented in The Met collection—as well as Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, José Parlá, Amanda Gorman, Charles White, and Joyce Carol Oates. This year, the exhibition displays original works in the Painting, Printmaking, and Drawing and Illustration categories. All writing works can be accessed virtually. Printed reproductions and projected visuals of all other art works will be prominently showcased in the Carson Family Hall.
“The art and writing included in this year's New York City regional exhibition represent a diverse range of media, styles, and perspectives from teens across the five boroughs,” said Wisniewski. “They share exciting originality and exhilarating creativity. The Alliance is honored to once again partner with The Met to celebrate the exceptional young New Yorkers who have won Gold Keys in this year's Scholastic Awards.”
The 2026 New York City Scholastic Art & Writing Awards exhibition at The Met is presented with generous support from Scholastic Inc., Maurice R. Robinson Fund, Public Funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Robert Lehman Foundation, AEO Better World Foundation, and the Cowles Charitable Trust. To learn more about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, visit the Scholastic Newsroom online at mediaroom.scholastic.com/artandwriting.
About the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, identifies teenagers with exceptional creative talent and brings their remarkable work to a national audience through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Founded in 1923, the awards program is the longest-running, most prestigious initiative of its kind, having fostered the creativity and talent of millions of students through recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships. artandwriting.org
About The Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870 by a group of American citizens—businessmen and financiers as well as leading artists and thinkers of the day—who wanted to create a museum to bring art and art education to the American people. Today, The Met displays tens of thousands of objects covering 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online. Since its founding, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum's galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures. www.metmuseum.org
Image Caption: William Baran, Water Droplets (detail). Gold Key, Photography, 2026. Grade 12, School unavailable, Brooklyn, NY. Educator unavailable