EDITOR’S NOTE: The ninth annual Colleges of Worcester Consortium Student Art Exhibit has announced it will delay its opening to 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, to give everyone time to shovel, as the area is expecting Nemo on Feb. 8, the original opening date.

The event remains free to the public, and free parking is always available at the Freemasons, at the corner of Ionic and Beacon Street, one block up from ArtsWorcester. See you then!

Looking for a different kind of date on Valentine’s Day? How about dinner and an art exhibit?

ArtsWorcester will present its ninth annual Colleges of Worcester Consortium art exhibit from Feb. 8-March 21. This is an exhibit of unique work by college and university students in the Worcester area.

Each year, all students enrolled in Worcester colleges are encouraged to submit work for consideration, regardless of their major. According to Arts Worcester Executive Director Juliet Feibel, approximately 150 students submit work. Students are allowed to submit up to three pieces in any medium they chose. A juror then selects the pieces for the show. This year, the pieces were judged by Carol Keller, who works for Amherst College as a professor of art. Keller will also award first, second and third prizes, as well as honorable mentions. Cash awards are given with the prizes.

Last year, Feibel said, more than 300 pieces were submitted. There are no themes for this exhibit; ArtsWorcester hopes to show a wide spectrum of creativity from students from colleges such as Anna Maria College, Becker College, WPI, Assumption College, College of Holy Cross, Clark University, Worcester State and Quinsigamond Community College.

Feibel said that in the past, ArtsWorcester usually has 350 patrons or so attend the opening day and many more throughout the course of the show. This is the only time that Worcester really gets that college-town feel, which is a great experience for all involved, Feibel said.

This exhibit, as are all that ArtsWorcester has, is free and open to public. Arts Worcester is located in the old historic Aurora Hotel at 660 Main St. The exhibit runs in the regular gallery hours from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Free parking is available for ArtsWorcester visitors at the Freemasons’ two paved parking lots, at the corner of Ionic and Beacon streets, one block up from ArtsWorcester.

The exhibit’s opening celebration will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. ArtsWorcester will also host dance party to benefit next year’s exhibit from 8-11 p.m. Friday, March 15. Tickets are $15 for the dance. For more information, call (508) 755-5142 or visit artsworcester.org.