Post by Jeanette Anderson, Associate Manager Of Development at the Alliance For Young Artists & Writers and Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Alum (’07)

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards alumni cross generations, disciplines, and career paths. In 2007, I received my Gold Key in high school for poetry. Sixty-one years earlier, in 1946, my father Lennart Anderson received a Scholastic Award and scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago. Now, I work for the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the nonprofit that presents the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, writing poetry in my free time, while my father continues to paint and exhibit his work. Meanwhile, the Alliance’s programming has expanded to include the Scholastic Awards Summer Series, the Alliance Summer Arts Program, the Art.Write.Now.Tour, the National Student Poets Program, alumni and educator residencies, and now, the inaugural SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS ALUMNI COUNCIL!

The Alumni Council is a select group of writers and artists who advocate for and champion the arts for teenagers in diverse communities across the nation while encouraging other Alumni to remain connected to the program for unique networking opportunities. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Alumni Council advises the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers’ staff leadership on programs and audience development.

The Alumni Council’s thirteen members represent a wide variety of artistic genres, professions, and interests. Get to know each member here!

The Alumni Council will be hosting the opening reception of the Art.Write.Now.2015 National Exhibition on Friday, June 5! The event is free and open to the public with raffles to benefit the Alliance, music and of course, sparkling wine to raise a glass and toast great art and writing! Come by and say hello!

See you there!

P.S: On June 5, we will also launch our flash Crowdrise campaign to raise $10,000 in ten days. Take a peek here and join the team!