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 Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, which manages the Southern Nevada Art & Writing Regions. Here’s what the staff at Springs Preserve had to say about Awards activity in their region:
The Springs Preserve in Las Vegas is the Affiliate Partner for the Scholastic Awards in Southern Nevada. Located a few miles from a historic downtown and with stunning views of the famous Las Vegas Strip, the Springs Preserve is the historic birthplace of Las Vegas. Museum buildings, galleries, walking trails, botanical gardens, and more are found on the site. The mission of the Springs Preserve is to create a visitor experience that builds culture and community, inspires environmental stewardship, and celebrates the vibrant history of the Las Vegas Valley.
The bulk of our submissions are from students in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, but also from rural communities more than 100 miles away.
The number of Scholastic Art & Writing submissions has grown each year. This year we had 400 pieces on exhibit and we are at capacity. Depending on the number of submissions we receive for the 2017 Scholastic Awards, we might have to restrict the public art exhibit to Gold and Silver Key recipients only. We will make the decision next year depending on the number of awards distributed to our students. All in all, that’s a good problem to have because it means that we are getting more and more students involved.
At the same time, we don’t want the writing submissions to be downplayed in any way. In year’s past we made large vinyl quotes of opening lines of some of the top writing pieces and placed them throughout the art gallery. In the last few years, we have invited writing Gold Key recipients to record their submissions which were played back using audio players and phone receivers so that visitors to the exhibit could hear the student authors read their works.
Our Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Ceremony is our best attended exhibit opening each year, drawing up to 2000 individuals. We continue to look forward to hosting the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for years to come.
Art.Write.Now.Tour 2015-16 will be stopping at Springs Preserve April 14-23, 2016. Be sure to check out the national traveling exhibition of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! Curated, produced, and presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Tour showcases a selection of works from the 2015 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards—inspiring and innovative art and writing by teens from all across the country.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are proud to work with organizations like Springs Preserve to help talented students receive recognition for their creative efforts. By partnering together, Springs Preserve and the Scholastic Awards give our youth the support they need to become lasting members of their art and writing communities.