Young Artists and Authors Showcase

Each year, the Young Artists and Authors Showcase encourages youth from around the globe to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork and literature. All students must submit their work based on a designated theme that is announced each year. Artwork is sent from member cities to Washington, D.C. where a panel of judges selects the winners based on originality, composition, and theme interpretation.

This program is a great opportunity to reach out into the community and engage local English and art teachers, and reach a student audience that may not already be included in sister city programming. After the finalists for art and literature have been announced, they embark on a year-long tour hosted by local sister city programs on a monthly basis. This opportunity is available to any city and can help expand local youth programming.

The Young Artists Showcase is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013 and it will be the fifth year for the Young Authors Showcase as well. All past and recent finalists in art, essay, and poetry are displayed on the website under Youth Programs.

2013 Young Artists and Authors Showcase Theme

"The Power of Exchange"

What does this mean to you? Sister city relationships foster partnerships within the community and between international cities, counties, and states. Whether in person, online, or through the mail, exchanges of people and ideas facilitate community development and educational opportunities. Through 2D media illustrate the long-term impact that exchanges have had on yourself or your community. How have one or both changed for the better?

Eligibility

Participants must be between 13 and 18 years of age at the time the 2013 deadline
One (1) piece of artwork is eligible from each U.S. member city and One (1) from each of their sister cities. Author entries are unlimited.
The student must be affiliated with a dues-paying member in good standing of SCI
Entry Fee = $50.00 per piece of art (submit with a separate submission form for each entry), and $5.00 per essay or poem
Return Fee = $20.00 per piece of art (only if the city would like the art returned). Not applicable for author entries.

Remember to attach the appropriate entry form with your submissions. We also encourage members to display and distribute these forms in their community.
Young Artists Entry Form
Young Authors Entry Form

Please mail artwork and entry fees to 915 15th Street NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. Email essays and poems to Jennelle Root Martell at jrmartell@sister-cities.org. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2013.

Awards:

10 Finalists will be selected from the total entries.
These 10 pieces of art will be displayed at the Sister Cities International 2013 Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX.
From the 10 winning works, one U.S. artist and one international artist will be selected as overall winners.

2012 Grand Prize Winners:

Made possible by the generous support of the Carvey Family.

Young Artists:

Title of Piece	Name of Artist	Artist's City
Cotton Club Crescendo	Joshua Williams	Hampton, VA
Looking to the Future Through Our Past	Natalia Galkina	Kalingrad, Russia, Sister Cities of Norfolk, VA

To see the list of 2012 Young Artists Showcase finalists CLICK HERE.

Young Authors:

	Title of Piece	Name of Author	Author's City
Essay	Connections, Hope, Promise for the Future	Danielle Hejhal	Osage, IA
Essay	The Role of Young Generations in the Future of Society	Akos Kovacs	Debrecen, Hungary, Sister Cities of New Brunswick, NJ
Poetry	As Youth We Can	Cambrea Braudaway	Phoenix, AZ
Poetry	I am the Voice of the Youth	Saidhbhe Cullen	Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland, sister city of Chandler, AZ

To see the list of 2012 Young Authors Showcase finalists CLICK HERE.

Want to view the Young Artist and Authors Showcase finalist entries? Click on the links below!

2012 Young Artists and Authors Showcase winners