New York, NY — September 15, 2010 — The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing the nation's outstanding teen artists and writers, has launched their call for entries for the 2011 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The Awards program is the oldest, longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for student achievement in visual arts and writing in the United States.

Teen artists and writers in grades 7-12 are invited to submit their best work in more than 25 categories, including film and animation, video game design, poetry, sculpture, fashion design, journalism, photography and science fiction.

More than 165,000 student works are submitted through regional affiliate programs across the country. The submissions are evaluated locally and nationally by panels of judges comprised of renowned artists, authors, educators and arts professionals. Award winners will be announced in early spring. For more information on regional submission deadlines and how to submit work, please visit www.artandwriting.org. www.artandwriting.org.

"Creativity and originality are hallmarks of American culture, and for 88 years the Scholastic Awards have been identifying and encouraging the next generation of America's creative leaders," said Virginia McEnerney, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. "We are especially proud to be launching this program year during Arts In Education Week, and working with schools and community leaders who support arts education."

Fifteen graduating high school seniors will be honored with the competition's most prestigious award, the Portfolio Gold Medal, which is the highest level of achievement. Each Portfolio Gold winner will receive a $10,000 cash award. Their teachers also receive awards. Additionally, hundreds of other top high school senior award-winners are eligible for nearly $4 million in scholarships through a network of more than 60 colleges and universities that recognize the significance of The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has a long list of distinguished alumni includingAndy Warhol, Robert Redford, Sue Miller, Richard Avedon, Zac Posen, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Otterness, Sylvia Plath, John Lithgow, Ned Vizzini, Abdi Farah (winner of the reality show Work of Art: The Next Great Artist), and John Baldessari, who will accept this year's Alumni Achievement Award at a Carnegie Hall Ceremony next May.

Since 1923, more than 13 million of America’s most talented teens have participated in The Awards. 2.5 million students have been recognized through exhibitions and publications and have shared in more than $25 million in cash awards and college scholarships.

The program is proudly supported by Scholastic Inc., the Maurice R. Robinson Foundation, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Command Web Offset, The New York Times, Dick Blick Co., Ovation, AMD Foundation, and New York Life Foundation.

For more information about The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards or how to enter the competition, visit

Contact:

Yanique Hart
Scholastic
212.343.6901
yhart@scholastic.com