High School Groups

Bakersfield Museum of Art is happy to include Kern County high schools the Via Arté Festival. Due to limited space and sponsorship, BMoA may not be able to accommodate all applicants. Acceptance is dependent upon early and complete registration.

There have been changes to our policies regarding umbrellas, square availability, and other items around the Festival area.

Please refer to the 2025 Rules and Guidelines for Schools (pdf).

Tips, frequently asked questions, and more insight into participating at the festival can be found here.

Important Dates For Schools

Monday, August 11, 2025
Registration opens for school groups

Monday, September 29, 2025
Registration deadline for school groups

Monday, October 6, 2025
Artists notified of acceptance by 5:00 PM

Saturday, October 18, 2025
7:00 AM - School check-in at The Marketplace

Sunday, October 19, 2025
Squares must be completed by 3:00 PM for award judging

Highland High School, after Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's "Spirit of Montmartre," 2023, 7' x 7', chalk on asphalt. Sponsored by Kathy & Steve Hair
WINNER - Best Overall High School Entry, 2023

High School Awards

High school student teams accepted to participate will be eligible to compete for awards at Via Arté.

  • Best Use of Color: awarded to the student team that successfully employs color and tonal value to render their subject matter with lively dimension, texture, and/or form.

  • Best Technique: awarded to the student team that demonstrates expert skill in rendering a final image that is clean and consistent with their chosen method of execution.

  • Best Rendition of a Renaissance Master: awarded to the student team that best replicates the original work of art by a Renaissance Master painter.

  • People’s Choice: Selected by festival attendees who vote in our poll, People’s Choice award is given to the high school square that receives the most votes from 8AM, Saturday, October 18 through 11:59 PM Sunday, October 19. The winner will be announced on social media on Tuesday, October 21. 2025

Award-winning teams will receive commemorative certificates for their accomplishment after the festival.

Judging Process

High School entries will be evaluated by a guest juror. All jurors are selected by the Bakersfield Museum of Art based on their qualification to appropriately evaluate art to festival standards. The jurors are instructed to view each square and make selections based on artists who display mastery in use of color, space, technique, and ability to replicate a masterwork. Each winning square should display an overall understanding in ALL elements of art (line, form, value, color, texture, subject matter, etc.). Selections are made solely by the guest juror.