Visual Arts

There are several opportunities for young artists to exhibit their artwork and explore artistic endeavors throughout the district, county, and state. In each school building, art teachers rotate displays to feature various students’ artwork throughout the halls. Additionally, school art teachers will nominate students/artwork to be a part of outside opportunities/exhibits for which they qualify. Since this is not an exhaustive list, students may be offered additional or alternative opportunities should they arise.

NYSATA Portfolio Project
The NY State Art Teachers Association sponsors this adjudication annually, and it is hosted in various locations all over New York. With guidance from NYSATA-member art teachers, student-artists prepare a portfolio of artwork based on their level:
● Elementary Level (grades 4-6)
● Middle Level (grades 6-8)
● Commencement Level (high school beginner)
● Elective Level (high school intermediate)
● Major Sequence Level (high school advanced)

Students prepare throughout the year, and then present their portfolio and explain their work to a judge at a county adjudication site in the spring. Portfolios are authentic assessment tools that provide evidence of the artist’s understanding and learning in the visual arts. Adjudicators provide student-artists with a rating, praise, comments, and suggestions to promote the student’s continued growth as an artist.

Riverhead Free Library
The Riverhead Free Library offers several opportunities for young artists throughout the year, in collaboration with our district art teachers. Artwork by our elementary school students are displayed in the Children’s Department of the library on a rotating basis. The library also holds several art contests throughout the year, and in the spring, the Teen Art Show features professionally hung artwork by our high school students. 

District Office
Student artwork is displayed on a rotating basis in the lobby and conference room of District Office on Osborn Avenue.

SCALA Exhibits
The Suffolk County Art Leaders Association offers opportunities for art teachers to exhibit student artwork, such as the High School All-County Show in the winter, and the Children’s Art Show in the late winter/early spring. A limited number of art pieces are accepted to these shows.

The Parrish Art Museum
The Parrish offers opportunities for art teachers to exhibit student artwork. They accept a limited number of group projects from grades K-8, and a limited number of individual pieces from high schools into their late winter/early spring student exhibition.

Colors of Long Island
The Long Island Museum in Stony Brook hosts the “Colors of Long Island” exhibition each year. Art teachers may enter a limited number of student art pieces into the show.

Congressional Art Competition
The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 as an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Thousands of high school students from across the country participate each spring, and one winner from each congressional district is chosen to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. The First Congressional District in which our schools reside hosts a highly competitive art exhibit featuring its competition entries annually.

Art-in-Action
This extraordinary annual district event allows students, parents, and community members to take pride in the artistic endeavors of students from across the Riverhead School District. Held at Riverhead High School each year, this exhibit features artwork from students K-12. In addition, each elementary school’s exhibit space features an activity table for our youngest children to enjoy.