Every year, before the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards open for submissions, we take a look back at the previous year and figure out ways to improve the program for our students, parents, and educators. For the 2020 Awards, we’ve made some changes that you should be aware of before submitting your work.
Category Changes
Future New submissions are now eligible for regional recognition.
We’ve made changes to the Video Game Design category description. Please review the description carefully before submitting your work to make sure it adheres to the new requirements.
Digital Submissions
How you send in your Submission Form and payment may be different depending on what region you’re in, so make sure you read the instructions on your Submission Form.
Many regions have gone fully digital, meaning all of your submissions forms and your payments or fee waivers must be submitted digitally by uploading them to your account. These regions will not accept submission forms or payments through the mail.
Submission Fees
The Awards are presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and its Affiliate Partners. Submission fees support both your local Affiliate and the Alliance to cover the cost of processing, customer service, scholarships, ceremonies, exhibitions, publications, and other general operating costs. The submission fees for the 2020 Awards are $7.00 per individual submission and $25.00 per portfolio submission.
Regional Awards Announcement
Local programs will announce regional awards on or before January 31, 2020. Students and educators should check their accounts after this date to find out the status of their submissions.
Many regions will be presenting their student’s certificates digitally. Students will be able to access and print their regional certificates by logging into their Awards accounts.
Region-at-Large
Region-at-Large (RAL) submissions will have the chance to be selected as American Visions and American Voices Nominees. This nomination is only available to RAL students who attend school in the United States.
Special Achievement Awards
Best-in-Grade Award
The Best-in-Grade Award, underwritten by Bloomberg Philanthropies, provides 24 students (two artists and two writers per grade 7–12) with $500 scholarships.
How to apply: All Gold Key-awarded work will be considered.
Civic Expression Award
The Civic Expression Award, underwritten by the Maurice R. Robinson Fund, provides six students whose works best promote responsible civic life with $1,000 scholarships.
How to apply: During the online submission process, opt in for consideration by responding to the Civic Expression Award prompt.
New York Life Award
The New York Life Award, underwritten by the New York Life Foundation, elevates the voice of bereaved teens and creates healing conversations around grief. It provides six students whose works explore personal grief, loss, and bereavement with $1,000 scholarships.
Additional state scholarships of $500 are available to two students from each of the following states: Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, and New Mexico.
How to apply: During the online submission process, opt in for consideration by responding to the New York Life Award prompt.
One Earth Award
The One Earth Award, sponsored in part by the Salamander Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation, provides four students whose creative works are related to climate change with $1,000 scholarships.
Additional state scholarships of $500 are available to two students from each of the following states: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
How to apply: During the online submission process, opt in for consideration by responding to the One Earth Award prompt.
Portfolio Awards
The Portfolio Awards, made possible by generous individual donors and other supporters, provide 16 Gold Medal Portfolio recipients with $10,000 scholarships and 30 Silver Medal with Distinction Portfolio recipients with $1,000 scholarships.
How to apply: All graduating seniors submitting portfolios will be considered.
The Alliance/ACT-SO Journey Award
The Alliance/ACT-SO Journey Award, in partnership with the NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO), provides travel stipends for up to ten ACT-SO scholars, who also receive Scholastic Art & Writing Awards’ National Medals, to attend the National Ceremony at Carnegie Hall.
How to apply: During the online submission process, ACT-SO scholars should opt in for consideration by selecting ACT-SO as their “Other Educational Program.”
The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon
The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon, underwritten by The Herb Block Foundation, provides three students who exhibit excellence in editorial cartoons with $1,000 scholarships.
How to apply: All submissions to the Editorial Cartoon category will be considered.
And that’s it! Now you know everything you need in order to begin submitting your work. If you have any questions, you may always visit our FAQ page or contact us via email at info@artandwriting.org.