We invite high school students to create original art to raise awareness about one of the most pressing global issues of our time.   Top prize: $250

ART CHALLENGE TOPIC:

Quest for Ending Wars and Achieving Peace

The world is suffering with several wars and armed conflicts, resulting in enormous suffering and devastation. As students, you have a unique perspective on these issues, and we believe that your artwork can play an important role in our quest for peace. We encourage you to express your ideas and emotions through your art and make your voice heard. Consider the following questions as you think about this topic:

• What is the role of diplomacy to avoid and end wars?
• How is justice and reconciliation related to achieving peace?
• What is the role of international institutions such as the United Nations in achieving peace and justice?
• What does war and peace look like from a human rights perspective?

ART CHALLENGE GUIDELINES AND DETAILS:

Grade levels: 9-12

Requirements: Work must be two-dimensional and must be mounted individually on black matte board (18” x 24” horizontal and no more than 1/8th inch thick). You may use acetate to cover delicate works such as charcoal or pastel. (These requirements are very important as the finalist art pieces will be framed for the exhibit that will take place at Wharton Center for Performing Arts.)

Paperwork: All projects must be submitted with the filled-out name tags typed, printed in color, and mounted on black matte board (5.5” x 8.5”) on both sides. On one side, the name tag should include the name of the student, school, his/her teacher’s name, the title for the art piece and a brief statement (1-3 sentences) describing the artwork’s message. On the other side, only the title for the art piece and the brief statement should appear. Moreover, another name tag will full information (name of student, school, teacher’s name, title) should be taped (or glued) to the back of the art piece’s matte board for ease of identification.  Please fill out the teacher inventory form for your school as well. Both the name tag template and the teacher inventory form are available here.

Timeline: The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2024. Work will be returned to students after the exhibit.

Display & Awards: Finalists will be selected based on juror’s choice. After that, the final rankings will be decided based on public vote and juror’s choice. The awards are: $250 for first place, $125 for second place, and $75 for third place. In addition, there will be honorable mentions.

Questions? email peacequestlansing@gmail.com