UNION CITY, Tenn. — Discovery Park of America is inviting students from Obion, Weakley, Lake and Fulton counties to participate in a Student Creative Arts Contest as part of its Tennessee America 250 programming commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The contest is supported in part through a Tennessee America 250 grant awarded to Discovery Park by the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. Throughout 2026, Discovery Park will serve as one of Tennessee’s leading destinations interpreting the state’s theme, “Tennessee: The Original Frontier,” with exhibitions, festivals and educational programs exploring the people and ideas that have shaped 250 years of American independence and identity.
This year’s contest theme, “What Does the American Dream Mean to You?”, invites students to reflect on the ideals of independence, opportunity and freedom and express their perspectives through original artwork.
Students will compete for more than $2,000 in cash and prizes, including Blick Art Materials gift cards and Discovery Park of America memberships across multiple age divisions, from kindergarten through college.
First-place winners in each division will receive cash prizes, art supply gift cards and a one-year family membership to Discovery Park. Additional honors include a Best in Show award open to all grade levels and an Art Teacher Recognition Award for the teacher whose class has the highest student participation.
“Involving students in America 250 is one of the most meaningful ways we can celebrate this milestone,” said Angela DeMaris, education events coordinator at Discovery Park of America. “When students create art inspired by freedom and opportunity, they are not just studying history. They are connecting it to their own lives and thinking about what those ideals mean for their future.”
Students in kindergarten through college who live in Obion, Weakley, Lake or Fulton counties may submit one original, two-dimensional work created specifically for the contest.
The submission deadline is Sunday, May 10, 2026. Entries must be delivered to the Discovery Park front desk during regular park hours.
Additional America 250 programming planned at Discovery Park of America in 2026 includes a Juneteenth celebration, the exhibition “Brushstrokes of a Young Nation: The Art of David Wright,” the Military Expo, “Celebrating 250 Years of Independence” on July 3–4 and the two-day “David Crockett Homestead and Bluegrass Festival” on Oct. 23–24.
America 250 is a national initiative led by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and coordinated by a White House task force to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. In Tennessee, statewide programs are organized under the theme “Tennessee: The Original Frontier,” with grants administered by the Tennessee State Museum to support community-based storytelling and historical preservation.
Rules and regulations for the contest can be found at discoveryparkofamerica.com/
Questions may be directed to Angela DeMaris at ademaris@
Photo: Tucker Jones, son of Lauren and Cameron Jones, works on a piece of art for Discovery Park of America’s America 250 art contest.