Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is a prestigious program in the United States that recognizes and celebrates creative excellence among middle and high school students. It is administered by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and has been in existence since 1923, making it one of the longest-running and most esteemed programs of its kind.

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Table of Contents
1. Purpose
2. Eligibility
3. Submission Categories
4. Awards and Recognition
5. Exhibitions and Publications
6. Educational Opportunities
7. Why Participate?
8. Art Categories
9. Writing Categories
10. Additional Requirements and Guidelines

Purpose

  • The Awards aim to identify and honor young artists and writers with exceptional creative talents.
  • They provide a platform for students to gain recognition for their work at local, regional, and national levels.

Eligibility

  • Open to students in grades 7–12 in the United States, U.S. territories, and American schools abroad.
  • Participants must be 13 years of age or older to submit.

Submission Categories

  • The program offers opportunities in a variety of categories across art (e.g., painting, sculpture, photography) and writing (e.g., poetry, short story, dramatic script).
  • It also includes portfolio categories for high school seniors.

Awards and Recognition

  • Submissions are first evaluated at the regional level through local affiliates.
  • Top regional works receive Gold Keys, Silver Keys, or Honorable Mentions and can advance to the national level.
  • National awards include Gold Medals, Silver Medals, and special awards like the American Visions and American Voices Medals.
  • Scholarships and cash prizes are often available for recipients.

Exhibitions and Publications

  • National award-winning works are often showcased in exhibitions or featured in publications.
  • Selected works may be displayed at venues like the Art.Write.Now. National Exhibition in New York City.

Educational Opportunities

  • Students gain access to workshops, networking opportunities, and feedback from experts in the creative industry.
  • Teachers and schools of recognized students are also celebrated for fostering creativity.

Why Participate?

  • Provides a platform for creative students to gain recognition and validation for their talents.
  • Offers scholarships and financial support for higher education.
  • Helps build a portfolio for college applications or professional development.
  • Connects participants to a broader community of young artists and writers.

Art Categories

  1. Architecture: Original designs for buildings or other structures.
  2. Ceramics & Glass: Sculptures or works primarily made of ceramic or glass materials.
  3. Comic Art: Sequential art that tells a story or expresses an idea.
  4. Design: Functional designs like fashion, product, or graphic design projects.
  5. Digital Art: Artwork created or manipulated using digital tools or software.
  6. Drawing & Illustration: Traditional or mixed-media drawings and illustrations.
  7. Editorial Cartoon: Single-frame or multi-frame cartoons commenting on societal issues.
  8. Fashion: Original clothing or accessory designs.
  9. Film & Animation: Short films, animations, or video projects.
  10. Jewelry: Handcrafted pieces of wearable art.
  11. Mixed Media: Works combining multiple art mediums (e.g., collage, assemblage).
  12. Painting: Works using traditional painting mediums like acrylic, oil, or watercolor.
  13. Photography: Original photographic images captured and composed by the artist.
  14. Printmaking: Art made through traditional printmaking methods (e.g., etching, lithography).
  15. Sculpture: Three-dimensional works made from materials like clay, metal, or wood.

Writing Categories

  1. Critical Essay: Analytical essays that explore literary, cultural, or political topics.
  2. Dramatic Script: Screenplays, stage plays, or other written scripts for performance.
  3. Flash Fiction: Extremely brief stories, typically under 1,000 words.
  4. Humor: Writing that explores humorous themes or uses comedic techniques.
  5. Journalism: Nonfiction articles exploring factual topics, often with a news angle.
  6. Novel Writing: Excerpts or full submissions of long-form fictional works.
  7. Personal Essay & Memoir: Nonfiction works exploring personal experiences.
  8. Poetry: Collections of original poetry.
  9. Science Fiction & Fantasy: Fiction set in imaginative worlds, often speculative in nature.
  10. Short Story: Fictional narratives typically under 10,000 words.
  11. Writing Portfolio: A collection of up to eight works demonstrating a range of styles and ideas (for seniors only).

Additional Requirements and Guidelines

  • Each submission must be original and created by the student.
  • Collaborative submissions are allowed in select categories, such as Film & Animation.
  • Students may submit multiple works in various categories but must adhere to specific guidelines for each type.
  • The works must be submitted digitally through the Scholastic platform for initial review.

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