CAZENOVIA — On May 1, CazArts Creative Alliance will launch “A CazArts Youth Challenge ’21: What Shapes Your Dreams?” for grades K-12.

CazArts is an alliance of area arts organizations, individual artists, and the public that works to promote the creation and appreciation of arts in the greater Cazenovia area.

Organized by programming committee members Barb Bartlett, William Padgett, Cathy Savage and Colleen Prossner, the CazArts youth challenge is designed to showcase the creative spirit and innovative talents of Cazenovia area youth.

“Our goal is to encourage, synergize, energize and promote the creative impulses of local youth in [a variety of areas, including] photography, graphic art, fine art, written word, digital arts, video, musical composition, musical performance, dance and performance art,” said Bartlett. “Our goal is to digitally recognize all entries on our website. We then plan to offer a variety of opportunities for the public to witness and view as many of the outstanding works in Cazenovia as possible via print, display, exhibition and live performance in late summer and early fall.”

The challenge will be open to public school, private school and home-schooled students. Digital entries will be accepted from individuals or teams in three age ranges (elementary school, middle school and high school) from May 1-31.

Distinctions and awards will be given in each age category.

According to Bartlett, CazArts members, along with locally recognized figures in the arts and cultural community, will review the submissions.

Outstanding entries will be announced in early July.

Additional details on the challenge will be announced in April on the CazArts website and during a special April 27 CazArts Zoom meeting, which will be open to the public.

To learn more about CazArts, visit cazarts.com.