NORFOLK, Neb. -- An arts center in northeast Nebraska is showcasing artwork created by school students in their community.

The Norfolk Arts Center unveiled its annual student art exhibit on Saturday.

Dustin Southworth, the marketing and membership coordinator for the arts center, said the center holds the exhibit annually to celebrate Youth Art Month in a special way.

"It's actually a very unique thing, especially for a town this size and the area in Nebraska," he said. "To give students the opportunity to showcase their art in a professional gallery setting is such a unique thing that most students wouldn't get the opportunity to be in a gallery."

Students from Norfolk Public Schools, Sacred Heart Elementary, St. Paul's Lutheran School, Lutheran High Northeast, and Christ Lutheran Elementary all participated in the exhibit.

These artists created different drawings, paintings and sculptures.

New to this year's gallery was a black light exhibit that took over the show on Saturday.

"The blacklight gallery was a hit," Southworth said. "That was like the number one draw. The students wanted to get to their art piece first, but then they had to go see the blacklight. We have confetti on the floor, we have the beautiful artwork on the walls, and just everybody was drawn to it."

Southworth said that the exhibit is also held to build and expand the arts in the area and to influence a new generation of artists.

The exhibit will be held until Wednesday, March 22 and a juried show will be brought in beginning April 1.