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Art All-State

“Art All-State is awesome. I'd do it again anytime.” - Sean Hobin, Longmeadow

Art All-State 2008

On May 30 and 31, 2008, 145 high school juniors from all over Massachusetts converged on the Museum for two days of exploration and collaborative art making with 16 professional artists and mentors. Learn about becoming an artist/mentor. With this the 21st Annual Massachusetts Art All-State, the program now boasts nearly 2,650 alumni.

Kristy Thomley, a ‘97 alum now living and working in Los Angeles as a production designer, recently contacted the program to say, “Time and again, when people ask me why or how I became involved in set design and art production, I come back to a singular pivotal event - Art All-State. Thank you, Art All-State, for inspiring me to continue with a life full of creation and art.”


During Art All-State, world-renowned tape artist Michael Townsend worked in residence at the Worcester Art Museum. Townsend uses colored, low-adhesive, biodegradable artist's tape to “draw” on the exterior wall of the Museum, offering Art All-State participants the chance to view a public art installation in progress. This is the 13th year that Townsend participated as an artist in residence with Art All-State.

Images from:
Art All-State 2008
Art All-State 2007
Art All-State 2006
Art All-State 2005
Art All-State 2004
Art All-State 2003
Sweet Sixteen Alumni Art Exhibit

Art-All State Mission

Who should be nominated? Each high school may nominate up to two Grade 11 students who are in good academic standing. These students should demonstrate a keen interest in visual art, have imagination, flexibility and a willingness to experiment in new situations. They need not be students who demonstrate the highest degree of technical expertise, but they should be students who would benefit from the Art All-State experience and may be considering further education in art. Nomination materials mailed statewide to high schools in early November. Student application deadline is in late January.

Download Nomination Forms

Who is selected? Final participant selection will be based on points accrued through the returned nomination materials and a personal interview in which the students discuss their artwork with a group of art teachers. These interviews are conducted in March at nine regional sites throughout Massachusetts.

Notification of acceptance. One hundred and forty students will be invited to attend Art All-State. Students will be notified of the status of their application by mid-April.

A.A.S. 2008 Participants
click on thumbnail for larger image

Art All-State is a collaboration of the Massachusetts Art Education Association, and the Worcester Art Museum. This program is supported in part by the David J. Freelander Memorial Education Fund, Fallon Community Health Plan, and in part by a grant from the Worcester Cultural Commission, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. We also receive gifts from alumni and parents including an annual gift from the Ostrowski Family in memory of Christopher Ostrowski, AAS ‘96.

In addition, we'd like to thank the following organizations for their generous contributions: AA Transportation, Acme Pre-Pac Corporation, Big Y, Blick Art Materials, CC Lowell, Cocoon Graphix, Curry Printing & Copy Center, Danforth Museum of Art, Davis Publication, Extras for Creative Learning, Garelick Farms, Mass MoCA, New England Wooden Ware Papa Gino’s, Polar Beverages, Price Chopper, Sanford, Sargent Art, Stonyfield Farms , Strathmore, Sysco Corp., Thompson Food Service, Utrechts.

Links of Interest

This model program has been replicated in New Hampshire at the Currier Gallery of Art. New Hampshire Art All-State occurs in April.

If you would like to find out more about the Worcester Art Museum's Art All-State program, or have any questions, please call 508.799.4406, x3072, or email artallstate@worcesterart.org.

Press Release