P.S. Art 2012 Exhibition at Metropolitan Museum Opens Tonight

Works of art by 76 of New York City public schools' most talented students in grades K through 12 will be displayed in the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education at The Metropolitan Museum of Art for two months this summer through P.S. Art, a project of the New York City Department of Education and Studio in a School Association, Inc. P.S. Art is celebrating its tenth year. The juried exhibition P.S. Art 2012: Celebrating the Creative Spirit of NYC Kids will open for special viewing by the public beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, for participants in the Museum Mile Festival, and will remain on view through August 12.

Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of the City of New York; Thomas P. Campbell, Director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Dennis Walcott, Chancellor, New York City Department of Education; Caroline Kennedy, Honorary Director, The Fund for Public Schools; and Agnes Gund, founder of Studio in a School, are among the speakers who will address students, parents, and teachers at a private ceremony prior to the opening.

Commenting on the Museum's participation in the project for the fifth consecutive year, Mr. Campbell said: "Through this display, we are delighted to recognize the hard work, creativity, and artistic achievement of so many talented New York City public school students in all five boroughs."

Peggy Fogelman, the Museum's Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Chairman of Education, added: "In addition to having their works displayed here, these young artists will receive free admission passes to the Museum for themselves and their parents. We hope they will be frequent visitors to the Museum this summer to seek enjoyment and inspiration from the Met's vast collections, spanning every region of the world and every period of history."

The annual P.S. Art competition fully integrates all public school students in K through the 12th grade. The works in this year's exhibition were made by young artists with a broad spectrum of life experience: students having special needs are represented, as are those enrolled in advanced placement art classes. The exhibition shows how student creativity, artistic ability, and subject matter evolve in the journey from childhood to adulthood.

The New York City Department of Education is grateful to Bank of America for its generous support of the P.S. Art reception and commemorative program materials, and for joining us in celebrating our young artists and their teachers.

The works in the P.S. Art 2012 exhibition were chosen from 786 submissions citywide. A jury comprised of members of the art community, including staff from the Met, made the final selection.

All of the works in the exhibition will also be featured on the website of the Museum (www.metmuseum.org).