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:

Understanding Refugees’ Challenging Life Journeys of Hope and Resilience

The world is facing an unprecedented refugee crisis, with millions of people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and climate change. As students, you have a unique perspective on these issues, and we believe that your artwork can play an important role in educating others about the challenges faced by refugees and advocating for their rights. 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 life like for a refugee, separated from his/her home country, culture, and loved ones?
• How can your artwork convey the experiences and emotions of refugees, such as displacement, loss, and resilience?
• What does a refugee have in common with you?
• What are the challenges and needs of a refugee?
• How can your artwork inspire others to take action to support refugees, such as volunteering, donating, or advocating for policy change?
• What are some common misconceptions about refugees, and how can your artwork help to dispel them?
• What are some of the positive contributions that refugees have made to their communities and how can your artwork celebrate their diversity and resilience?

ART CHALLENGE GUIDELINES AND DETAILS:

Grade levels: 9-12

Criteria: 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 September 29th, 2023. 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