The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards’ national office in New York City is dedicated to growing and supporting our Affiliate Partners across the country. Our Affiliate Partners are doing great work in their communities, and we love hearing about their outreach efforts, their students, and their programs. This month, we shine the spotlight on the Newark Public Library, which manages the Southern New Jersey Art Region and the New Jersey Writing Region of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Here’s what the Newark Public Library had to say about Awards activity in their region:
The Newark Public Library is excited for our first year administering the NJ Writing Region, as well as the Southern New Jersey Art Region. All teens in grades 7–12 who attend school in New Jersey are eligible to submit their writing. We are also accepting art from students in Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, and Gloucester counties.
Becoming an Affiliate of the Scholastic Awards aligns with the Library’s goal of expanding services to teens. We are committed to nurturing the growth and showcasing the work of teen artists and writers. A teen services librarian was hired in March, who is actively conducting outreach to the Newark community and beyond.
This fall, we are offering programming to inspire creativity in teens. We reached out to local poet Jasmine Mans, who successfully competed in HBO’s Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices as a teen, to offer weekly teen writing workshops at our main branch through the fall. Terina Nicole, a South Jersey-based fashion and accessories designer, will also be leading Jewelry design workshops at our branches. In addition, we are participating in the Newark Open Doors Citywide Arts Festival, which will feature painting workshops and artist talks.
Our recognition ceremony will be held in the Main Library on March 17, 2018. We recently began using BiblioBoard, a community engagement platform that allows library users to access the work of independent authors, artists, and musicians. Our Gold and Silver Key recipients will have their work featured in an anthology which will be published digitally using this tool.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are proud to work with organizations like the Newark Public Library to help talented students receive recognition for their creative efforts. By partnering together, the Newark Public Library and the Scholastic Awards give our youth the support they need to become lasting members of their art and writing communities.