In 2017, the Prairie Chicken Arts Festival Committee added something new to the mix. The committee invited area schools to submit artwork from students that would be displayed in the windows of downtown shops during the festival that year.
Students from kindergarten through high school were invited to enter and each student was allowed one piece of artwork. A total of 408 pieces of art were collected from participating schools the first year.
The goal of the project was to have student artwork displayed for all to see and to encourage and celebrate young artists and to supply one school with additional art supplies.
The student art display has continued each year since 2017 and thanks to the involvement of every school, the 2023 Student Art Show displayed 1021 pieces in the downtown windows.
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the original 15 Walldog murals, every school was presented with a check for $100 to be used towards art supplies.
The festival committee said they wish to acknowledge all of the school principals, art teachers and students from Kewanee High School, Central Junior High School, Irving Elementary, Belle Alexander, Neponset Grade School, Wethersfield Elementary and Visitation Catholic Grade School who help to make the art festival a success each year.
