“Celebration of Youth XXIII: A Harvest of Creatives” will run from Sept. 26 through Oct. 15 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery. A public reception honoring the artists and their families will take place at 3 p.m. Oct. 15 in Room 11 of the Home Economics Building on East Campus.

Each year, 4-H youth from across the state compete at the Nebraska State Fair in the 4-H areas of clothing, home environment and Quilt Quest. The Hillestad Gallery spotlights the prize winners in each category, allowing audiences to see the creativity, invention and craftsmanship involved.

About 140,000 youth participate in 4-H in Nebraska. The youth, ages 5-18, are involved in camps, clubs, school enrichment and after-school programs organized by Nebraska Extension. Educational programs such as the Quilt Quest, home environment and clothing curricula represented in this exhibition place strong emphasis on key life skills including critical thinking, problem solving, social skills, communication, responsibility, citizenship and leadership.

The Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery is part of the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design in the College of Education and Human Sciences. The gallery is located on the second floor of the Home Economics Building, near 35th Street and East Campus Loop. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. Admission is free. Guest parking is available near the building and metered stalls are located in the Nebraska East Union lot. For more information, call (402) 472-2911 or click here.