All-City Visual Arts | Chicago Public Schools

ACVA’s ongoing partnership with the Design Museum of Chicago centers on the elementary and high-school exhibitions. The high school exhibition showcases 2D, 3D, and digital artwork by students in grades 9th-12th and the elementary exhibition features work by students from PreK through 8th grade.

ACVA Elementary and High School Exhibitions Submission Guidelines

Past ACVA Elementary and High School Exhibitions

Senior Portfolio General Submission Guidelines

Artwork may be 2D, 3D, or time-based (video, computer-based, etc.)
Schools that do not have a Visual Arts teacher on staff may still submit artwork.
All artwork must be created entirely by students and have been completed during the 2023-2024 school year.
Student’s and teacher’s names should be as they would like it to appear publicly on gallery wall labels, the exhibition website, and publicity materials.
Submit 1–5 items of artwork. Submitted artwork should be documented with high-quality photographs that are properly lit. For each item, follow the Artwork Guidelines.

File naming

Please use this protocol below when naming files. If you are submitting multiple images of work, please add a numerical number at the end of the name to distinguish the artwork from one another. The image file extension may differ from what is in the example below (.jpeg, .png).

(Example: Eric+Smith+1.jpeg)
(Example: Eric+Smith+2.jpeg)
(Example: Eric+Smith+3.jpeg)

Title

In the Slideroom application, please enter the title of the artwork exactly as you want it to appear on gallery labels and the exhibition website, including spelling and capitalization.

Description

Use this field to include your Artist Statement (if applicable; see below) and anything else you think we should know about the artwork.

Medium

Enter the medium of the artwork (e.g., Artist Book, Collage, Comic, Drawing, Fashion, Fiber, Game, Graphic Design, Installation, Internet Art, Music, Painting, Performance, Photograph, Print, Sculpture, Sound, Video, etc.)

Materials used to make the artwork

Please describe the materials used to create the work; e.g., oil paint, yarn, images from the newspaper

Dimensions of Artwork

Please include the height x width x (depth, if 3D work) in inches.

For video/audio files

Please include the duration (how long) in minutes.

Use the "Description" field in the Slideroom application to enter this information.
We encourage each student to write a statement (3 sentences max) about their piece(s). Artist statements help give context to each submission; however, they are not mandatory and will not affect acceptance into the exhibition.
Submitted statements may be displayed along with the work if the statement demonstrates exemplary clarity, critical thinking, and creativity.
A statement can answer (but is not limited to) these questions:
- What is the title of the work?
- Explain why you made the piece.
- What does the piece mean to you?
- What are you trying to say to your audience?

In the application link, you will be required to submit photographs of your work.
Keep in mind these tips when taking photos of your artwork:
A statement can answer (but is not limited to) these questions:
- Try to fill the entire camera frame with your work. If you are shooting against a background, make sure it is neutral or black, and frame your work evenly in the shot.
- Use bright natural lighting if possible. Natural-light fluorescent lighting is another good choice. Do not use a flash. Position your work so that there are no shadows in the shot.
- Take multiple shots of your piece(s), and pick the best one(s). Take your time and ensure that you submit photos that show the artwork at its best.
- Please be aware that if selected for the exhibition, the image you submit will be the image included. There will be no additional image editing by the Department of Aarts Education (e.g., cropping, color enhancement, etc.).

photo of Mayrav Bader's work: Trip in Venice
Mayrav Bader: Trip in Venice

photo of Nicole Kucharska's work: Visitor
Nicole Kucharska: Visitor

Senior Portfolio Selection Process

Student work will be considered for inclusion in the Exhibition (both physically at SAIC* AND virtually on the website) OR in the Honorable Mention section (virtually on the website).
At least one (1) piece from each school that submits will be in the Exhibition and/or Honorable Mention section of the website.

View the 2024 Senior Portfolio Exhibition