Artwork by students, professionals hanging side by side at exhibit

The Bibb County school district is showing off its creative side. A new exhibit at the Tubman Museum showcases about 140 pieces of artwork by employees and their families. The National Arts Program opens Nov. 4 with a reception and awards presentation from 5-7:30 p.m., and the works will be on display until Dec. 16.

The National Arts Program Foundation works with large employers across the country to provide workers and their family members the opportunity to be a part of professional, judged, visual arts exhibitions, said Macon Arts Alliance curator Janet Williams. Each show must have at least 100 participants. Eighty-six venues in 38 states are involved in the program, according to the foundation’s website.

Donald Druitt, chairman of the Macon event, was familiar with the National Arts Program because one of his woodworking pieces was shown at a 2007 exhibit in Miami Beach, Florida. Once in Bibb County, he pitched the idea of a local exhibit, and he put together a team in November to make it happen.

The Macon Arts Alliance provided the judges, Marlin Adams and Bob Detamore. The Tubman Museum became the venue, and the school district found the talent.

The Tubman Museum is always looking for opportunities to work with the community, and the National Arts Program was an opportunity to support Macon as a whole, curator Jeffrey Bruce said. Museums can be intimidating to people, but this exhibit shows good work by artists of all ages and skill levels. Works by kids just getting started are hung next to ones by professionals. Each artist has one or two pieces featured.

“The whole point of this is to inspire people to get their creative juices flowing, to inspire more creative thinking and creative activity in the community,” Bruce said. “We hope this will be a nice reward for people who participate and that it will inspire them to keep going.”

Artwork was submitted in the categories of painting, works on paper, photography, sculpture, craft and mixed media, Druitt said. Cash prizes and ribbons will be presented at the reception to the top youth, teen, amateur, intermediate and professional submissions. Best in Show and Art Education awards will also be given.

“Hopefully, it will encourage people to be more involved with the arts and to share their artwork with the world,” Druitt said.

Participants can upload as many of their works as they like to the National Arts Program website, where they’ll be available for a year. People all over the world can see their pieces, and artists can connect with one another.

Bibb County has the option to present the National Arts Program exhibit annually, and Pruitt said that is the event team’s intention. After the first show, they will decided if they want to move forward.

This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Artwork by students, professionals hanging side by side at exhibit."