Carmel International Arts Festival celebrates student artists with scholarships & gallery exhibition

This year’s Carmel International Arts Festival (CIAF) was a tremendous success, welcoming more than 30,000 visitors who enjoyed an outstanding selection of artwork, including pieces by returning artists and musicians as well as exciting new talent.

CIAF also celebrated the creativity and accomplishments of local high school students through its annual High School Student Art Exhibit. Students from Carmel High School (CHS) and University High School (UHS) submitted 133 works of art, showcasing their talents across a wide range of artistic mediums.

In keeping with its mission to educate the community through the arts and support emerging artists, CIAF awarded scholarships to recognize the students’ creativity, innovation, and artistic achievement.

The student artwork was displayed at the Indiana Artisan Gallery on Range Line Road in the Carmel Arts & Design District. Providing students with a professional gallery setting gives them an opportunity to share their work with the community and experience the excitement of exhibiting their art in a professional venue.

This year’s High School Art Exhibit Scholarship recipients include:

Rosemary Waters Excellence in the Arts Scholarship ($2,500)

• Liz Maitz, UHS – Spring in Finland, watercolor

Best of Show Scholarships ($1,500 each)

• Kenzie Beaster, CHS – Acrylic
• Annabel Pollert, CHS – Watercolor
• Lillian House, CHS – Charcoal
• Dravyn Hermeena, CHS – Photography

Innovation in the Arts Scholarships ($1,500 each)

• Maija Gilhooly, UHS – Fashion
• Quinn Crawley, UHS – Fiber
• Reid Dryden, UHS – Mixed media
• River Goldstein, CHS – Sculpture

Carmel Arts Council Award ($500)

• Kenzie Beaster, CHS – Getting Braces, acrylic

Tri Kappa Sorority: two awards ($250 each)

• Annabel Pollert, CHS – Watercolor
• Mona Liu, CHS – Chalk Pastel

Indiana Artisan: two “People’s Choice” awards ($250 each)

• Kaia Baron, CHS – Watercolor
• Mona Liu, CHS – Chalk pastel

Honorable Mention ($100 each)

• Zephyr Simon Stuart, UHS – Oil
• Kanah Lagus, CHS – Digital art
• Madison Bowers, CHS – Colored pencil
• Sydney Foertsch, CHS – Sculpture
• Quinn Crawley, UHS – Fiber
• Annebel Inman, CHS – Mixed media
• Maddie Masiuk, CHS – Mixed media
• Reid Dryden, UHS – Graphite
• Juliet de Bruyn, CHS – Colored pencil
• Sami Ghazaoui, UHS – 3D printing

Through scholarships, public exhibitions, and community engagement, CIAF continues to nurture emerging artists and inspire the next generation of creative talent. The High School Student Art Exhibit celebrates not only artistic achievement but also the value of making the arts accessible to the entire community.

You can learn more about the festival, including how to participate and visit in 2027, online at CarmelArtsFestival.org.