SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Wednesday will honor the three students whose designs won first, second, and third place in the 36th annual Illinois Arts Education Week statewide poster contest. The board will recognize the student artists at its regular business meeting at 10:30 a.m. March 14 at 100 N. First St. in Springfield. A framed poster with the first-place winner's design will hang in the ISBE Board meeting room in Springfield.

Governor Bruce Rauner declared March 12-18, 2018, as Illinois Arts Education Week. 

“The arts are an essential part of a basic education for all students," Governor Rauner said. “The arts help students develop creativity, enhance cultural understanding, and tap into their full potential. Congratulations to the arts week poster contest winners and the educators who support the development of their skills and appreciation for the arts."

The students' designs illustrated the 2018 arts week theme “The ARTS Make History Come Alive!" in conjunction with the Illinois Bicentennial. View the winning posters.

“Thank you to all of the students who worked hard and submitted beautiful and thought-provoking designs," said State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, Ph.D. “A special congratulations to our three winners and to their art teachers for nurturing their talent and passion. The arts empower students to contemplate and express their ideas about history, culture, and their own experiences in new ways. All students deserve the opportunity to explore and create through high-quality arts programs."

The 2018 poster contest accepted entries from any student in kindergarten through eighth grade. The following students created the winning designs:

• First place: Tejaswi Achanta, taught by art teacher Deyana Matt at Westfield Middle School in Bloomingdale School District 13
• Second place: Alec Osato, taught by art teacher Deyana Matt at Westfield Middle School in Bloomingdale School District 13
• Third place: Audrey Lupton, taught by art teacher Amy Minch at Franklin Middle School in Springfield Public Schools District 186 

The Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA) also will recognize the poster contest winners at the 70th annual IAEA Fall Conference on November 10 in Bloomington.

Schools and the public may request posters by contacting ISBE's College and Career Readiness Division at (217) 524-4832, arts@isbe.net, or via mail at 100 N. First St., C-215, Springfield, IL 62777-0001.