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Visual Arts

WCPS students PreK-12 experience a visual arts curriculum built on the WCPS Essential Curriculum and the MSDE Fine Arts Standards tied to the National Core Arts Standards

Students have opportunities to Create, Present, Respond and Connect through a variety of artistic media and subject matter. They explore both how art has played a role in our history and culture as well as how art can provide them with a means of personal expression. 

Students have opportunities to showcase their talents through “in school” art exhibits as well as many public shows (local and regional) and community efforts throughout the school year.

Washington County Goes Purple Art Poster Contest - PreK-12
Annual early fall art contest in conjunction with Washington County’s effort to raise awareness related to substance abuse and addictions. 

MSDE Fine Arts Dept - Fall and Spring First Lady Exhibit / Fall and Spring Treasury Building Exhibit - PreK-12
MSDE state-level art exhibitions in fall and spring including artwork from all counties in Maryland. 

MAEA - BWI Student Art Exhibit Fall and Spring - PreK-12
An opportunity in fall and spring for students to submit artwork that will be on exhibit at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. 

MAEA - Walters Art Museum Student Show - PreK-12
A student art exhibit at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore that our Washington County students annually participate in through the Maryland Art Education Association. This exhibit usually occurs in December. 

Fall and Spring Elementary Fine Arts Festivals - PreK-5
A celebration of music and art with our elementary age students in November and February, typically at North Hagerstown High School. Elementary schools submit five artworks that appear both as a physical exhibit and a PowerPoint show in the auditorium before the music events of the evening. 

Student Created Holiday Cards - PreK-12
Annual tradition going back 30+ years where our art students create holiday greeting cards that are delivered to residents at over 30 public care facilities in Washington County. Our students routinely create over 2,000 original cards for this effort. 

USMH Student Art Show - 9-12
Annual judged high school student art contest hosted by the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown in January. 

WCAC Art Educators Exhibit - Wash Co Art Educators
The Washington County Arts Council hosts an annual exhibit featuring artwork from Washington County art educators in February. Many of our WCPS art teachers are represented each year in this exhibit. 

Tri-State Civitan Disability Awareness Art Contest - 6-8
WCPS partners with Tri-State Civitan with a middle school age focused art contest promoting disability awareness each March. 

Trilogy Art Competition - 9-12
Capital Women’s Care with the Trilogy Professional Center partners with WCPS to host a judged art competition annually for high school students in March. 

MSDE Best of Maryland Festival - PreK-12
MSDE Fine Arts Department hosts a state-wide art festival featuring visual and performing student artists annually in April. 

WCMFA Student Art Show - PreK-12
Our annual county-wide student art show goes back 70+ years with the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. This exhibit features a large selection of artwork from every school PreK-12, attracting thousands of visitors during April and May.