FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2025

Celebrate Creativity at Crooked Tree Arts Center’s 2025 Youth Arts Festival

PETOSKEY, Mich. — Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) is excited to unveil the full lineup for the 2025 Youth Arts Festival, an annual spring celebration of creativity showcasing the talent of young artists and writers from across Northern Michigan. CTAC is dedicated to fostering youth arts education through programs such as the High School Portfolio Prep Program, CTAC School of Ballet, CTAC Music Classes (in partnership with Big Water Creative Arts), school tours, and year-round classes and workshops.

From visual arts to creative writing, the festival provides a platform for students to shine. The celebration culminates in the Youth Arts Awards Ceremony, held on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the CTAC Theater, where outstanding students and their works will be recognized and celebrated. Save the date and join us in honoring Northern Michigan’s next generation of creative voices.

Festival Highlights

23rd Annual Young Writers Exposition
CTAC invites area teachers, including homeschool educators, to submit student writing (K-12) during the submission period, January 14 – March 14, 2025.

For the first time, submissions in all writing genres are welcome—poetry, prose, academic essays, screenplays, historical essays, and more. Submissions are open to students from schools served by Char-Em ISD or homeschooled students in Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

Winners will receive McLean & Eakin Booksellers gift cards and publication in the Petoskey News-Review’s digital edition. Additional prizes will be awarded by grade. New for 2025, the “Finding Your Voice, Stories Told” award will recognize one middle school and one high school student, who will have the opportunity to “guest direct” their writing with Little Traverse Civic Theatre actors during the SPRighT Showcase at the CTAC Theater on May 10, 2025.

Youth Arts Scholarships
CTAC will award two $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors pursuing studies in the arts, including visual arts, performing arts, theater, dance, and music. Scholarships are open to students in Charlevoix, Emmet, Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties. Applications will be accepted from January 20 – March 14, 2025. These scholarships are funded by generous community contributions. Full eligibility and application details can be found at crookedtree.org/scholarships2025.

Annual Youth Art Show
This much-loved exhibit, featuring artwork by K-12 students from Char-Em ISD schools and homeschooled students, will be on display from March 11 – April 26, 2025 in the Gilbert and Bonfield galleries at CTAC. All CTAC exhibitions are free to view and open to the public during hours of operation (Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm).

The Opening Reception will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, offering the public a chance to view the exhibit and celebrate student creativity with punch and cookies.

Youth Arts Awards Ceremony
The festival culminates in the Youth Arts Awards Ceremony, held at the CTAC Theater on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Students will be honored with awards recognizing excellence in art, writing, and dance. Award highlights include:

• University of Michigan Award

• Good Hart Artist Residency Awards

• Portrait Society of America Outstanding Portrait Award

• Tip of the Mitt Watershed Award

• Certificates of Recognition from Kendall College of Art and Design

• People’s Choice Award

• Harriett Lee Hicklen Memorial Scholarship for Dance

• And many more!

Celebrate and Support Youth Creativity

The Youth Arts Festival embodies CTAC’s mission to create ways for people to connect, learn, and grow through the arts. Through scholarships, awards, and exhibitions, CTAC is proud to nurture the creative aspirations of our region’s youth. Join us to celebrate their achievements and inspire future generations.

For details, visit crookedtree.org/YAS2025 or call (231) 347-4337.

Key Dates:

• Young Writers Exposition Submission Period: January 14 – March 14, 2025

• Youth Arts Scholarship Submission Period: January 20 – March 14, 2025

• Annual Youth Art Show Display: March 11 – April 26, 2025

• Opening Reception: Saturday, March 15, 2025, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

• Youth Arts Awards Ceremony: Thursday, April 17, 2025, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

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About the Crooked Tree Arts Center: The mission of the Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) is to create ways for people to connect, learn, and grow through the arts. CTAC offers exhibits, concerts, classes, lectures, special events, and so much more, from its campuses in Petoskey and Traverse City. For more information, please visit www.crookedtree.org.

Media Contact:
Keely Bomee Platte, Marketing & Communications Manager
Crooked Tree Arts Center
231-550-6868 | keely@crookedtree.org

Crooked Tree Arts Center
461 E. Mitchell St.
Petoskey, MI 49770
231-347-4337
www.crookedtree.org