NYC Gazette

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is currently hosting an exhibition featuring over 500 works by New York City teenagers who have received the prestigious Gold Key Award from the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This exhibition, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, celebrates the creativity of young artists in the United States.

In 2025, more than 2,500 students from grades 7 through 12 participated, submitting close to 14,800 works in the New York City region alone. Nearly 250 schools from all five boroughs contributed to the tally. Over 200 literary and visual arts professionals served on the judging panel, selecting works based on originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers aims to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent, offering them recognition, exhibition and publication opportunities, and scholarships. Established in 1923, the awards have highlighted the works of notable former winners such as Andy Warhol, Stephen King, and Amanda Gorman.

For further details about the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, individuals are encouraged to visit artandwriting.org. They can also reach out via info@artandwriting.org or follow their Instagram handle @artandwriting using the hashtag #GoldKey.

"The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are presented by the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, and are made possible through the generosity of Scholastic Inc., The Maurice R. Robinson Fund, Public Funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Dedalus Foundation, Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Robert Lehman Foundation, AEO Better World Foundation, and the Cowles Charitable Trust."