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Welcome! These three exhibits feature works from more than 500 students exploring their authentic selves, student activism, social distancing, and a love of reading.  

Each exhibit is interactive, including a step-by-step guide for youth to add their own work. We encourage you to add your voice by signing our guest book and commenting on pieces that inspire you with words of support.

We are honored to empower children and teens with a platform to share their novel ideas.


Art & Lit | Collectively You Portrait

Authenticity happens when your words, actions, and behaviors consistently match your core identity. That core identity is a collage – or collection – of our experiences, our actions, our values, and our histories. So how do we put our authentic selves out there? We reflect and courageously share.

This year’s project encouraged students to create a portrait that explores the collage of who they are.


Art & Lit | The Future is Us: Listening to our hearts as a catalyst for change

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The Future is Us celebrates students who became activists as they connected what they read to the world using the power of art. Students in grades 2-12 at three Title I schools participated in this exhibit that includes: a video tour of their activism banners created using a printmaking technique, a collection of student letters to community leadership, a special statement from local artists who designed the project, a step-by-step tutorial so you can print your own message, and more!


Covid Diaries by QuaranTEENS | Students write in-the-moment history

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Right now, people all over the world are hungry for ways to understand what’s happening to them and around them. Additionally, we will someday want to share the stories about living through this time with our children and grandchildren. While unprecedented moments of upheaval produce great fear and immense loss, we can also find inspiring examples of joy and love. These moments teach us about the things we truly value and allow us to develop creative solutions to unforeseen problems using the resources we have available to us. 

This left youth around the globe with this question: How can we be in-the-moment historians?

Find their responses in this truly once-in-a-lifetime exhibit, Covid Diaries by QuaranTEENS.


Kids Reading to Kids | Virtual storytimes connect children across the globe

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The Kids Reading to Kids exhibit highlights young voices practicing their own reading skills while bringing stories alive for younger children struggling with access to books while schools and libraries are shuttered.

This exhibit houses the growing collection of videos submitted by a dozen remarkable young people from across the United States finding their voice, and sharing their love of reading, during a time when we all could use a momentary escape to faraway places. 


This gallery is made possible with community support and special thanks to:

 
 
 

We’d also like to recognize the volunteers listed here who contributed their time and talents.

For information on sponsoring Novel Ideas, contact Christina Meeker, Donor Engagement Manager,
here.