OKLAHOMA CITY – For more than 45 years, the Arts Council of Oklahoma City has presented the annual Festival of the Arts to showcase and connect artists with the community. Those featured artists have all been adults – until now. On Saturday, April 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a pavilion in the Festival of the Arts children’s area will be dedicated to the Youth Art Sale.

The Arts Council of Oklahoma City is now accepting applications for students between third and 12^th grades, who live in central Oklahoma. The juried show will allow approximately 25 local students to present their original artwork during the Youth Art Sale on April 28.

Like the adult artists featured each year, the students will be present to greet potential customers and share their insights on their original pieces.

“The return of the Youth Art Sale is something I’m most excited about this year,” said Jennifer Barron, Community Arts Program Director for the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. “In 2011 it was great to watch teens and even children experience the thrill of selling their own artwork. I believe this experience gives young artists the confidence to pursue other opportunities in the arts, and I hope the participants will see themselves as true artists.”

The Arts Council of Oklahoma City has long been focused on exposing children to the arts and helping them develop their artistic potential, and the 2011 Festival of the Arts co-chairs Ray Bitsche and Kym Mason saw that same commitment when they visited and were inspired by the Pennsylvania Festival. The inaugural Youth Art Sale in 2011 was a success.

“The obvious pride felt by last year’s participants as they sold work to people they’d never met before was truly heartwarming,” Barron said. “The young artists were proud of themselves and what they had accomplished. I can’t wait to have another round of artists get to experience that same feeling at this year’s Youth Art Sale.”

Applications for the Youth Art Sale are available online. For more information about the Youth Art Sale, contact Community Arts Director Jennifer Barron at 405-270-4848 or jbarron@artscouncilokc.com.

Festival of the Arts is produced by the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. The Festival takes place Tuesday, April 24-29 in downtown Oklahoma City at the Festival Plaza, Myriad Botanical Gardens and Hudson Avenue. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free; pets are not allowed. For more information, visit www.ArtsCouncilOKC.com or call 405-270-4848.