Artwork by area elementary students will take the spotlight during the 23^rd annual Art Around Town exhibit. The event is set for March 19-28 on the mezzanine at the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St., in West Plains. It is sponsored by Missouri State University-West Plains’ University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department and the West Plains Council on the Arts.

This free event will feature two- and three-dimensional pieces by children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. The artists will represent the following school districts: Alton, Bakersfield, Dora, Fairview, Gainesville, Glenwood, Howell Valley, Junction Hill, Koshkonong, Lutie, Mtn. View-Birch Tree, Richards, Thayer, West Plains and Willow Springs. Each school can display up to 30 pieces of artwork in the exhibit, organizers said.

The exhibition also will include an awards ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 24, in the civic center lobby, followed by a reception to honor the artists. Artwork will be available for viewing on the mezzanine level. The works will be juried by artists from the region, organizers said.

Area residents are invited to view the pieces during regular civic center hours, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information about Art Around Town, call the U/CP Department at 417-255-7966 or visit wp.missouristate.edu/ucp/theater.htm.