Awards | Alliance for Young Artists & Writers

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers celebrates the creative achievement of America’s teens. The Awards were founded in 1923 to offer recognition and scholarships for students for their artistic talents. Students who excel in the visual arts and creative writing participate in The Awards to earn recognition, get their work exhibited or published, and to earn scholarships.

RECOGNITION

During the 2011 program year, more than 50,000 students will be recognized in their local communities, and 1,300 students will receive National Awards. Students and teachers will be celebrated at regional ceremonies, public events and the National Ceremony at Carnegie Hall.

Regional Awards

Gold Key: The highest level of achievement on the regional level. Gold Key works are forwarded to New York City for national adjudication.
American Visions & Voices Nominees: Works named “Best of Show” for each region.
Silver Key: Works worthy of recognition on the regional level.
Honorable Mention: Work demonstrating artistic potential.

National Awards

Gold Medal: The most outstanding works in the nation.
American Visions & Voices Medal: Works selected from the American Visions & Voices nominees as the national "Best in Region."
Silver Medal: Works demonstrating high honors on the national level.

EXHIBITION

The Alliance's Regional Affiliates mount more than 60 art exhibitions in museums and galleries across the country. Regional exhibitions include Milwaukee Art Museum, WI; Miami Art Museum, FL; Ft. Wayne Museum of Art, IN; Stauth Memorial Museum, KS; College for Creative Studies, MI; Mississippi Museum of Art, MS; and Armory Center for the Arts, CA; among many others.

The 2011 National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Exhibition will be on display in New York City in June 2011 coinciding with the national celebration at Carnegie Hall on May 31, 2011. Approximately 300 works of art and more than 50 works of writing from the National Award winners will be included in the exhibition. The Alliance also holds ongoing exhibitions at the U.S. Department of Education and the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

PUBLICATION

Selections from The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are published in the National Catalog, Best Teen Writing, and Spark (anthology of work by middle school students), which are distributed free of charge to schools and libraries nationwide. Works have also appeared in Scholastic publications including The Best Young Writers & Artists in America (Push), Scope magazine, Junior Scholastic magazine, Scholastic Art magazine, New York Times Upfront magazine.