Youth Art Contest

Social Justice Youth Art Contest

To bring greater awareness of the importance of teaching social justice themes, ESJ sponsors an annual Social Justice Youth Art Contest. We call for K-12 students to reflect on the theme of our conference through art. The winning submission becomes the colorful visual of our conference flyer, program cover & web page.

2018 Winner Announced!

ESJ is proud to announce Eileen S. (age 13) as the winner of our 2018 Social Justice Youth Art Contest!

ORIGINAL ARTWORK

2018 CONFERENCE FLYER

2018_flyer_esj_conference.pdf
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EILEEN'S DESCRIPTION ON HOW HER ART BUILDS COUNTER-NARRATIVES FOR RADICAL HEALING & HOPE:

"There are 6 different people, their faces are split in half. One side is how they really are, the other is their race’s stereotype.My artwork reflects these themes-social justice, healing, and hope-by showing that people are not just their race/gender/sexuality that people expect them to be. They are individuals with likes, hobbies, and dislikes, and they are being shown more and more, that is why the color in the actual person’s background has color, which makes it stand out more. Also, the colors are bright, which shows a bright future." -Eileen S. (Age 13)

Runners Up!

Thank you to all who submitted inspiring social justice artwork. We hope you submit again next year!

"In my artwork, there is a fist. On the inside of it are some of the people with color that have been killed by police unarmed. And in the back, Black Lives Matter. My artwork reflects social justice, healing and hope because it shows black lives matter. Also, that is not okay for an assumption to take someone’s life." Bailey, age 12

"My picture is about any person that’s going through something and has overcome it. So, everyone and anyone need to turn their back on the bad/evil. My artwork is reflecting social justice, healing and hope is when the people are doing the bad things to your family or you, you turn your back on them. And hope for the best by not going with them but changing your ways and start the healing section of your life." -Shakira, age 16

"In my artwork, women are looking out with an expression of hope for change. They are three difference races, but more than just three different colors or hair or eyes. This reflects social justice because it shows our differences as part of what we are. The three faces all come from the same whole strong body. The faces embrace differences, but all share the same expression of hope." -Abby, age 13

“I have peace signs and hearts and love and circles. Peace is going to give freedom to peoples. It helps people be kind.”
-Abigail, age 8

“There’s no people by there’s signs about getting people to “speak up.” A peace sign and a pizze to represent sharing. The idea is for people to talk about their problems and come together.” -Grant, age 8

How to Submit Artwork for the Contest

Deadline: November 1, 2017
You can submit your artwork by:

Scanning & emailing it to esj.stl@gmail.com OR
Mailing it to: Genevieve Caffrey, 7315 Northmoor Drive, St. Louis, MO 63105

In your submission, you need to include the above Submission Form which includes:
1) A few sentences describing your artwork (What is there? What is happening?)
2) A few sentences answering: How does your artwork reflect the ideas of Social Justice, Healing & Hope" *Writing can be scripted by an adult if the artist is challenged by the writing segment of the submission. However, original language must come from the child.

Click here to see examples of past youth artwork on our flyers. Click here for a GoogleSlide presentation that can be useful in prompting young people to learn, think, discuss & create around our conference theme: "Building Counter-Narratives for Radical Healing & Hope".

Submission Details:
***Deadline: November 1st, 2017***
• Open to all youth, ages 18 and under.
• Submissions must be on an 8 ½ x 11-inch piece of paper.
• Any suitable art materials or a computer-generated design may be utilized.
• Original artwork may be picked up between 1:00-1:30 the day of the conference.
• Submitting your art grants permission to ESJ to reproduce the art to promote the conference on our website, program, flyer, social media, etc.
• Registration Form must be typed or printed legibly in ink, signed, and must accompany the artwork submission.
• DO NOT STAPLE the Registration Form to the artwork.
• You are welcome (but not required) to include a photo of the artist to be displayed with the artwork.

submission_form_-2018_social_justice_youth_art_contest_.docx
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youth_art_contest_slideshow_building_counternarratives_for_radical_healing___hope.pptx
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Contest Winners

The Youth Art Contest winner will receive:

the honor of published artwork for the ESJ conference flyer, program, web page, Facebook page, Twitter page & more. (Great for an art portfolio!)
a Blick’s Art Supply Gift Card
recognition at the 2018 Educating for Change Curriculum Fair at Wydown Middle School on Saturday, February 24, 2018 (You will be invited on stage!)
free entrance to the conference for you and two adults over 18 years old

All artwork along with their descriptions will be posted on a banner that displays our theme at the conference. We hope you, your friends, and your family members come to the conference, even if you don’t submit artwork!