Student Art Contest Highlighting the Importance of School Attendance Lanched
Published on Tuesday, September 29, 2026
'The Art of Attendance' Invites Rhode Island Students to Share Their Perspectives Through Art
PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), in partnership with the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), today announced the launch of The Art of Attendance, a statewide student art competition inviting Rhode Island students to explore and creatively answer the question: "What makes you show up for school?"
"We invite students from every corner of Rhode Island to showcase their creativity through the 'Art of Attendance' competition and help spread the message that showing up matters," said Governor Dan McKee. "Our students are incredibly talented, and I look forward to seeing how they use their artistic voices to inspire their peers and underscore the importance of attendance."
"Every day a student comes to school is an opportunity to learn, grow, connect, and discover new possibilities," said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. "We know that students are more likely to attend school when they feel connected, engaged, and inspired. This competition gives students the chance to tell us, in their own creative voices, what makes school meaningful to them while reinforcing the importance of showing up every day."
"The arts provide a powerful way for young people to express their experiences and share what matters most to them," Todd Trebour, RISCA’s Executive Director, said. "The Art of Attendance highlights the critical role that belonging, creativity, and engagement play in student success, and we look forward to showcasing the incredible talent of Rhode Island students."
The initiative will engage students in art classrooms across grades K-12 to reflect on the people, experiences, opportunities and aspirations that inspire them to attend school each day. Through original artwork, students and art teachers will help elevate the importance of regular school attendance while showcasing the role that connection, belonging, and creativity play in their educational journeys.
The contest continues RIDE’s focus on improving student attendance and engagement. A recent study commissioned by RISCA highlighted research showing that students who participate in arts education demonstrate stronger school engagement and improved attendance, underscoring the important role the arts can play in supporting student success.
Through the nationally recognized Attendance Matters RI campaign, the Ocean State has made significant progress in improving attendance statewide, reducing chronic absenteeism by 14.4 percentage points from pandemic-era highs and helping students recover approximately 4.4 million instructional hours through statewide efforts to reconnect students with learning.
The contest is open to all Rhode Island students in grades K–12. Art teachers are encouraged to engage their entire school community—and potentially host a school-based exhibition—before selecting up to two pieces for submission to RIDE. Schools may submit up to two original two-dimensional pieces of artwork that respond to the prompt, “What makes you show up for school?” Entries may depict the people, programs, activities, classes, relationships, or personal goals that motivate students to attend school and engage in learning.
Finalists will be selected across elementary, middle, and high school grade spans and featured in a public exhibition at RIDE headquarters during February 2027. Award winners will be recognized during Rhode Island's annual Arts in Our Schools Month celebration at the Rhode Island State House in March 2027.
In addition to celebrating student creativity, the competition aims to elevate student voice and encourage conversations about the importance of attendance, school belonging, and engagement. By inviting students to share their perspectives through art, RIDE hopes to highlight the many ways schools support learning, growth, creativity and future success.
Additional information, competition guidelines, and submission materials can be found at: attendancemattersri.org/artofattendance.