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Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/29/2008 - 13:19.

AT–A–GLANCE
What is it?

Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation's longest-running, most prestigious educational initiative supporting student achievement in the visual and literary arts. The program has an impressive legacy of being the first to acknowledge creative talent and is today's largest source of scholarships for creative teens.

Who's it for?

Creative teenagers in grades 7–12, ages 13 and up  residing in the United States, U.S. territories and military bases, or Canada. 

Visit the Website

artandwriting.org

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Contact

Allyson Barkan
abarkan@scholastic.com
(212) 389-3469

Art & Writing In The News

THE TODAY SHOW An interview with fashion designer and 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Alumni Achievement recipient, Tracy Reese, about her experience receiving her very own Award from the program as a teen. 

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Exclusively reveals that celebrities Jennifer Garner, Chris Colfer and Lena Dunham will headline the 2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Virtual Ceremony.

HYPERALLERGIC A feature of National Gold Medal Portfolio recipient Brianna Blue of Brooklyn, NY, as well as the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards exhibition on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

WBOI (NPR) An interview with Gold Medal Portfolio Award recipient Alyvia Luong of Fort Wayne, IN, who talks about her award-winning photography portfolio.

THE NEW YORKER An inside look at the 2014 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards national adjudication process with 12th grade photography judges Andres Serrano, Casey Kelbaugh and Julie Saul.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Gold Medalist Steven Paul, 17, of Brooklyn, NY discusses his photograph "Lost Time," which was painted by Colossal Media on onto the side of a building in Williamsburg.

NBC NEWS Gold Medalist Steven Paul from Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn, NY featured on “Nightly News” to talk about his Award-winning photograph.

"We can say for certain then that a program like [The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards] doesn’t just honor artists. It creates them. It nurtures them. It gives them permission to shine brighter, to think differently, to be bolder."

— Jennifer Garner

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Press Releases

Background

What are the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards?

  • The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recognize student achievement in the visual and literary arts in 28 categories, including painting, novel writing, mixed media, poetry, digital art, journalism, and more.
  • Since the program’s founding in 1923, the Awards have fostered the creativity and talent of millions of students, including renowned alumni who have gone on to become leaders in their fields, including Ken Burns, Derek Fordjour, José Parlá, Kay Walkingstick, Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, , Charles White, Amanda Gorman, Tschabalala Self, Joyce Carol Oates, and Tracy Reese.
  • An Award signifies to parents, teachers, the community, and colleges that a student is an accomplished artist or writer.
  • The Awards offer opportunities for creative teens to earn recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships.
  • In the 2024 program year, 16 high school seniors received the Gold Medal Portfolio, which includes a $12,500 scholarship.
  • Each work of art and writing is blindly adjudicated, first locally through the more than 100 affiliates of the Alliance, and then nationally by panels of judges comprised of renowned artists, authors, educators and industry experts.
  • Works are judged on originality, technical skill, and emergence of personal vision or voice.
  • To learn more about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and to read the full rules, visit: https://www.artandwriting.org/awards/how-to-enter/

What is The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers?

  • The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers is the national nonprofit organization that presents the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and provides additional opportunities for creative teens to be recognized for their talents and to earn scholarships for their education.
  • The Alliance’s mission is to identify teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and bring their remarkable work to a national audience.
  • The Alliance also serves as a source of information for organizations and individuals who wish to support the creative development of our nation’s teenagers.

The 2024 Gold Medal Portfolio Recipients

Gold Portfolios, Art:

  • Scarlett Cai, Princeton, NJ
  • Avery Davis-Fehr, Eden Prairie, NM
  • Ashlin Kwong, La Grange, IL
  • Jada McAliley, Towson, MD
  • August Moon, Alexandria, VA
  • Lia Musser, Arlington, VA
  • Brenna Rusk, Grand Prairie, TX
  • Walter Sanmartin, Miami, FL
  • Beverly Zheng, Alpharetta, GA

Gold Portfolios, Writing:

  • Celina Bagchi, Fort Washington, PA
  • Diemmy Dang, Pottstown, PA
  • Aina Marzia, El Paso, TX
  • Isa Nava, San Antonio, TX
  • Adiyah Parham, Baltimore, MD
  • Addison Rahmlow, Slinger, WI
  • Kashvi Ramni, Andover, MA

Exhibitions

The Scholastic Awards exhibitions program offers creative teens opportunities for their work to be displayed in museums, galleries, libraries, and in other prominent venues. The annual National Exhibition showcases art and writing from the current year’s Gold and Silver Medalists. This exhibition brings the best of teen creativity into galleries in New York City as well as into people’s homes across the nation through the virtual component of the exhibition, making the work accessible to thousands of viewers and readers. 

The Scholastic Awards Traveling Exhibition comprises a curated selection of works that travels the country to bring the best of the Awards to all corners of the U.S. The Traveling Exhibition features works by students in host cities and includes engaging programming such as workshops, film screenings, student readings, and school group visits. The Scholastic Awards DC Exhibition at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., features a curated selection of works that are prominently displayed in our nation’s capital.

National Student Poets Program

What is the National Student Poets Program?

  • The National Student Poets Program is the nation’s highest honor for youth poets presenting original work. It is a collaboration of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. The Program builds upon the Alliance's longstanding work with educators and creative teens through the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
  • Representing five geographical regions of the nation, the 2023 National Student Poets are:
    • Jacqueline Flores (Southeast), Fort Meade Middle Senior High School, Zolfo Springs, FL.
    • Miles Hardingwood (Northeast), Hunter College High School, Brooklyn, NY.
    • Shangri-La Hou (Midwest), John Burroughs School, Saint Louis, MO. 
    • Kallan McKinney (Southwest), Norman High School, Norman, OK.
    • Gabriella Miranda (West), Rowland Hall, Salt Lake City, UT.
  • Video: What is the National Student Poets Program?
  • Information on the Program, students and upcoming events can be found at www.artandwriting.org/programs/national-student-poets-program/
 

Downloads

The 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards at Carnegie Hall


From left, Chair of the Board, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and President, Scholastic Entertainment, Iole Lucchese, interdisciplinary artist Derek Fordjour, fashion designer and Alumni Achievement Award recipient Tracy Reese, actor Derek Luke, President and CEO of Scholastic Peter Warwick and poet Kinsale Drake pose backstage at the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Ceremony held at Carnegie Hall, Thursday, June 8, 2023 in New York. (Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Alliance for Young Artists & Writers))
 

Interdisciplinary artist Derek Fordjour poses with fashion designer and Alumni Achievement Award recipient Tracy Reese and her award backstage at the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Ceremony held at Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., Thursday, June 8, 2023. (Photo by Jason DeCrow /AP Images for Alliance for Young Artists & Writers)
 
Gold Medal Portfolio recipients are recognized on stage at the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Ceremony held at Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., Thursday, June 8, 2023. (Photo by Jason DeCrow /AP Images for Alliance for Young Artists & Writers) 

Actor Derek Luke delivers remarks at the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Ceremony held at Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., Thursday, June 8, 2023. (Photo by Jason DeCrow /AP Images for Alliance for Young Artists & Writers)

Fashion designer and Alumni Achievement Award recipient Tracy Reese delivers remarks at the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Ceremony held at Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., Thursday, June 8, 2023. (Photo by Jason DeCrow /AP Images for Alliance for Young Artists & Writers)

 

 

 
Video Download: Click here to download an .mp4 file video.

 

Poet Kinsale Drake, back row far left, fashion designer and Alumni Achievement Award recipient Tracy Reese, back row second left, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers Christopher Wisniewski, back row third left, Chair of the Board, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and President, Scholastic Entertainment, Iole Lucchese, back row center left, President and CEO of Scholastic Peter Warwick, back row center right, Chairman of the Board of the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers Hugh Roome, back row third right, interdisciplinary artist Derek Fordjour, back row second right, and actor Derek Luke, back row far right, pose with the Gold Medal Portfolio recipients and National Student Poets backstage at the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Ceremony held at Carnegie Hall, Thursday, June 8, 2023 in New York. (Photo by Jason DeCrow /AP Images for Alliance for Young Artists & Writers)

 

The 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Virtual Ceremony


The 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Virtual Ceremony

 

The 2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Virtual Ceremony

 

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The Best Teen Art of 2021 

 

The Best Teen Writing of 2021 

 

Archived Press Releases