2nd Annual Young Hearts to Arts

St. Lucie County’s Young Hearts to Arts Traveling Exhibitions Are Back with Fun, Outdoor Events for the Whole Family

The Cultural Alliance’s 2nd annual Young Hearts to Arts contest is back, with traveling exhibitions hosted November 7th, 10 AM – 2 PM at the Heathcote Botanical Gardens and November 13th, 12 – 4 PM at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens. The exhibitions feature 73 submissions of artwork from St. Lucie County students, ranging from elementary school to college students.

The exhibitions also include many fun activities for the whole family, with guests able to participate in and create masterpieces from free art activities led by St. Lucie Alliance Art Guild Member Hannah Cullen. On November 7, at Heathcote, magician Anthony “The Mr. Medina” will be entertaining students and families. At the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, guests can observe Cultural Alliance Art Guild painting live at Plein Air in the Garden. Both events will include live music from guitarist Nico James, with performances 1-3 PM on the 7th and 12 PM – 2 PM on the 13th.

Voting is currently open on the online contest, where residents can vote for their favorite creations. The contest was launched last year as communities across the country and the world readjusted to find new ways to stay connected amid a pandemic. The success of the inaugural contest solidified its continuation as a Cultural Alliance signature online student contest.

Winners will take home award certificates, gift cards, and will have their work showcased in a special exhibition at the St. Lucie County administration building in Fort Pierce. At the gardens, guests can cast in-person votes for People’s Choice award, which will give the winners in each category a $75 gift card.

Entries have been accepted and are judged in four categories: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, and College age students, and featured online voting by the general public. First place and second place winners are voted for each category. The first annual contest was a success with 31 entries and nearly 400 votes by the public. Within the first week of voting, this year’s contest has already doubled in size, with over twice as many entries and nearly 1,000 votes already submitted.

To view this year’s submissions, please visit www.artstlucie.org/young-hearts-to-arts-gallery-2021