Art & Poetry Challenge 2023

The Challenge is open to all residents of New Hampshire. Submissions are welcome in the following five categories:

• Elementary School (Grades K-2)
• Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
• Middle School (Grades 6-8)
• High School (Grades 9-12)
• Adult

Students living out of state but attending NH schools are eligible.

Each participant may submit only one poem or one artwork for review. Collaborative submissions are allowed for both poetry and visual art.

Poems may be no more than 1 to 2 pages and limited to 50 lines. Poems should be submitted in Times New Roman font, size 12; line spacing 1.5.

Visual artwork should be unframed and may not exceed 16x20 inches. You can use pencil, pen, crayons, markers, paint, collage papers, clay, etc. 

We encourage comics, graphic art, and cartoons as well as drawings, paintings, sculptures, and other 3-D submissions. In addition, 3-D submissions may be no larger than 12x12x12 and weigh no more than 10 pounds.

Paintings and drawings must fit within the following standard frame sizes:

• 4” x 6”
• 5” x7”
• 8”x 10”
• 8.5” x 11”
• 12" x 12"
• 11” x 14”
• 16” x 20”

Elementary school students may enter a collaborative project that includes a poster-sized submission up to 36x48 inches. 

Please reach out to us at artpoetry.racialunityteam@gmail.com if a disability requires accommodations.   Copy and paste this email address; link not active.

Professional poets and artists will select the winners from among the participants, who remain anonymous in the judging process. Judges use the following criteria:

Artwork

1. The artist’s point of view is clear.
2. There is a clear focus on the theme of “A hidden past toward a more inclusive future.” Artists are encouraged to include past, present, and future in their artwork.
3. The work shows bias or its effects. The bias may be related to race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, ability, faith, gender expression, or gender identity.
4. The work shows originality.
5. The work is clear and detailed.

Poetry

1. The poet’s point of view is clear.
2. There is a clear focus on the theme of “A hidden past toward a more inclusive future.” Poets are encouraged to include past, present, and future in their poems.
3. The work shows bias or its effects. The bias may be related to race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, ability, faith, gender expression, or gender identity.
4. The poem shows originality.
5. There is supportive imagery that is clear, insightful, and detailed.   

Prize money will be given to first-, second-, and third-place winners in both poetry and visual arts for all five categories. The awards will include a minimum of $300 for first place, $200 for second, and $100 for third. In addition, a Racial Unity Team President’s Award will recognize collaborative submissions and a positive impact on those around them.

No individual may be awarded a cash prize for more than two consecutive years.   

There will be an awards ceremony and opening exhibit of all submissions in June 2023. The Racial Unity Team will frame the artwork and poems.

Submitted artwork will be kept for one year as the exhibit travels the state of New Hampshire in local libraries and/or galleries.

In addition, award-winning poets may be asked to read their poems to local audiences and art winners to describe their art in select ceremonies around the state. This is an offer each participant is free to accept or decline.

There will also be a virtual exhibit on the Racial Unity Team website.

By entering the Art & Poetry Challenge, you are granting the Racial Unity Team a non-exclusive perpetual license to reproduce images of your artwork or poetry on our social media pages, website, and in the marketing of the Art & Poetry Challenge to the general public. Artworks will not be used for any other purpose than that which is stated here. All winning entries will be displayed on the Racial Unity Team website and may be displayed during other public events.