Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

In 2010, BMAC became the Vermont Affiliate for The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a national non-profit organization that identifies teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and recognizes their achievements with the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

The Awards have an impressive legacy dating back to 1923 and a noteworthy roster of past winners, including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, and Joyce Carol Oates. They offer participants an opportunity to have work exhibited or published, and to win scholarships for summer programs or for college. In 2010, more than 30,000 teens were recognized nationwide, with 1,300 receiving prestigious National Awards.

Each year, students in grades 7-12 are invited to submit entries for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in a variety of categories, including comic art, ceramics and glass, digital art, architecture, painting, photography, video game, poetry, humor, dramatic script, science fiction, personal essay/memoir, and more. The criteria for awards of Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention include originality, technical skill, and emergence of a personal vision or voice. Gold Key winners are eligible for scholarships and awards at the national level.

The deadline to submit entries for consideration in Vermont was December 31, 2011.

Award-winning art and writing by Vermont students will be displayed at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center February 11-17, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free during that time. On Saturday, February 18, BMAC will open to the public at 12:15 p.m. for a preview of the exhibit before the 1 p.m. awards ceremony. Click here for a list of 2012 award winners and photos of award-winning work (coming soon).

BMAC’s role as Vermont affiliate for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is supported by the Amy E. Tarrant Foundation and New Chapter.