Art Under Twenty is 25! Artists from Willits High School, Willits Charter School and Potter Valley High School are excited to show their work and are pleased to invite everyone to come see the show. “Beautiful & Artistic!” said a visitor to the gallery, “These high school artists are not only talented, they’re creative, imaginative, innovative and great!” And it’s true!

AU20 is a favorite tradition for our teenage artists and their families and it’s become a beloved community event. It’s the longest running, most attended annual show at the Willits Center for the Arts.

This year, Art Under Twenty opens on April 5, 2024. However, the opening reception for the artists will be held on Friday, April 12th from 3:30-6:30 PM. The Willits Center for the Arts gallery is open Friday through Sunday 11:00-5:00 PM.

I appreciate my artists! They surprise and delight me all the time and make everyday a great day in the WHS studio. Some have shown their work in AU20 before but for many, this will be their gallery debut and something to be proud of. Students can add this to their resumes and include it on college and scholarship applications.

According to the Kennedy Center for the Arts…

Art classes help teens enjoy and stay in school. Students can take the skills learned from their arts experiences such as discipline, patience, and problem-solving and apply them throughout their lives.
Taking classes in the arts help teens graduate on time. For example, a report from the Center for Arts Education found that New York City high schools with the most access to and support for arts education have the city’s highest graduation rates.
Arts education can be a gateway to the future. Arts-related businesses provide jobs in creative fields ranging from advertising and video game design to fashion and theater management. The creative sector needs more than just artists, too, it needs accountants, marketers, computer technicians, lawyers, and many others.
The arts can help in applying to college. The College Board has found that students who take classes in the arts for four years in high school scored substantially higher on the SATs than students with six months or less training in the arts.

We hope you get a chance to see our 25th anniversary show.