The Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibited drawings of New York schoolchildren

The Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated an exhibition to the work of New York schoolchildren. At the annual PSArt exhibition the museum presents the best works of art created by children aged 5 to 18. The publication told about the difficult choice of the best of the best among 1200 works submitted by schoolchildren The Guardian.

“We don't have any quotas, we just choose the best,” explained Alison Scott-Williams, president of Studio in a School NYC.

PSArt has been a tradition for 21 years now. Selecting 1200 of the 122 works that eventually went on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was a challenging but rewarding job, Scott-Williams said.

“It’s a godsend to be able to support the youth in this way,” she admitted.

The PSArt project is the brainchild of Studio in a School, an organization dedicated to promoting the arts in New York City schools. Studio in a School now offers preschool and high school programs. They provide an opportunity for art to children who do not receive sufficient knowledge of art in the schools where they study.

The organization works with communities in 10 different states and works with numerous institutions throughout New York, including the Brooklyn Museum and the Studio Museum in Harlem. Studio in a School was founded in 1977 in response to educational budget cuts that nearly eliminated the arts from New York's public schools.

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In addition to providing students with the opportunity to receive an in-depth art education, Studio in a School offers them a wonderful opportunity to exhibit their work in one of the most prestigious museums in the world.

In addition, PSArt members are automatically included in the Metropolitan Chronicle. This means that the name of the student, their work, the name of the school, and the name of the teacher will be stored in the archives of the museum forever.

But that's not all! Selected annually by Studio in a School, the top 15 high school students receive a $1000 scholarship.

“They can use that thousand to pay for college,” Scott-Williams said. “Or just buy art supplies.”

For her, it all comes down to celebrating young people and giving them a chance to feel important. According to her, "the school is set up so that parents are happy that their children get good grades," and "there are not many moments created for people to praise the success of children in school."

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Alison appreciates the PSArt program because it truly connects children and their creativity, providing a valuable opportunity for students to understand that they can become artists. The kids might not even realize it.

Exhibition PSArt-2023 already works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and will be available for viewing until October 13.