Morris Arts regretfully announces that The Morris County Teen Arts Festival will not take place in 2026. Previously hosted by the County College of Morris, the festival was a one-day event open to all Morris County middle and high school students. The event included performances, exhibitions, workshops, and adjudication in multiple categories of performing and visual arts.
As the designated county arts council, Morris Arts is seeking a new organization to plan and host the Morris County Teen Arts Festival in 2027. With over 900 middle school and high school attendees in 2025, hosting this event is an opportunity to connect with and support youth from all over the county. Organizations interested in hosting the festival in 2027 should reach out to Morris Arts’ Executive Director, Patsy Clew at pclew@morrisarts.org for more information.
Other Upcoming Arts Opportunities for Teens
Blackwell Street High School Student Art Show
Although the Teen Arts Festival is not happening in 2026, there are other opportunities for area students to participate in the arts or have their work evaluated. Visual artists attending high school in Morris County are encouraged to submit their work to the Blackwell Street High School Student Art Show. Works selected for display will be exhibited at The Atrium Gallery located in the Morris County Administration and Records Building with an opening reception on April 9, 2026. Students interested in participating should talk to their art teacher about submitting their work and refer to the guidelines linked here.
Dare to Shine Dare to Lead Youth Open Mic Training
Students with an interest in the performing arts are invited to sign up for Dare to Shine Dare to Lead Youth Open Mic Training. During this free, twelve-week series, students will receive performance training and learn the technical aspects of running an open mic event utilizing the stage space for hands on experience. Taught by experienced teaching artists, sessions will take place Sundays from 4:00-6:30 PM at the Boonton Holmes Public Library beginning February 8. This series is a collaboration between Morris Arts and Life Center Stage as part of their Making Art in Public Spaces (MAPS) initiative, and is graciously supported by Caring Partners of Morris & Sussex.
Assemblies, Workshops, and Residencies
Arts in Education has been a significant focus of Morris Arts’ work for over 50 years. Morris Arts maintains a comprehensive directory of high-quality teaching artists who offer assemblies, workshops, and residencies for students in a variety of disciplines. Residencies, in particular, provide students with in-depth, hands-on experiences by engaging them in a long-term project. These projects range from mural painting to stop motion animation to creative writing and more. Those interested in learning more about bringing a teaching artist to their school, library, or community center can review Morris Arts’ Program Directory or reach out to Barbara Reuther, Director of Arts in Education at breuther@morrisarts.org to learn more.
Founded in 1973, Morris Arts has been building community through the arts for over 50 years. As the designated arts council for Morris County, the nonprofit works to provide meaningful artistic experiences for all county residents regardless of age, means, or background. They facilitate high-quality arts education programs for students, community arts events, and arts in health programs that improve participants’ well-being. Additionally, Morris Arts advocates for the arts and regrants state funds to local arts organizations, expanding access to arts experiences throughout Morris County.