For the fourth year, UMass Dartmouth’s College of Visual and Performing Arts stepped up to showcase the talents of young artists across the state in the Emerging Young Artist 2016 Invitational Exhibition .

The exhibition opened on Monday, Jan. 25 at the CVPA Campus Gallery and will remain open for public viewing until Saturday, Feb. 3.

"The goal of the exhibition is to give high school students a chance to see their work in a professional setting and to expose the strengths of the program," said UMass Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Suzanne Schireson.

Schools throughout Massachusetts that are recognized for their artistic excellence and “for the quality of work that comes from their art programs” are invited to submit student works of any media to be displayed in the gallery, according to a press release. Ten students from Bishop Stang High School and Dartmouth High School had their works selected for the exhibition.

The art teachers from each school are then tasked with selecting four to five of the strongest pieces to submit to the show.

“It is very hard for them to choose because they have so many works,” said UMass Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Elena Peteva.

Organized by Peteva, the exhibition has grown over the years to encompass over 30 different schools in the state. This year, more than 150 works are being displayed at the gallery.

The show has grown tremendously over just a few years. In the exhibition’s first year, there were only 10 schools participating.

Local artists featured at the gallery include Bishop Stang’s senior Sophia Marcalo, junior Thomas Quinlan, senior Eric Kellogg, senior Gabrielle Lopez, senior Anna Pauls and Dartmouth High’s junior Hannah Leavitt, Tessa Remy-Miller, senior Lindsey Getchall, senior Sarah Philpot and senior Thomas Amaral.

The closing ceremony will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 1 - 3 p.m. Students who won awards and honorable mentions will receive their prizes. UMass faculty and Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts Adrian Tió will be present to present the awards and celebrate with the students and their families. The artists will also get to have their portfolios reviewed by faculty members.

With over 130 attendees at last year’s closing ceremony, Peteva anticipates there will be a large turnout.

The CVPA Campus Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The gallery is on the first floor of the CVPA building at UMass Dartmouth. Parking can be found in lot 7.