Young Artists and Writers Are Called to Create

Dina Abdulhadi, Special Projects Coordinator with the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers/Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, is encouraging all students in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) to apply for their New York Life Award. The award provides six students whose visual art or writing explores personal grief, loss, and bereavement with $1,000 scholarships. Montana students are also eligible for a special state-level scholarship of $500.

For Montana youth, visual art submissions are due on December 3, and writing works are due on December 12. To learn more about the application process, interested individuals should visit artandwriting.org/newyorklife/.

According to contest organizers, sharing personal experiences with grief and bereavement can provide the artist or writer with an outlet for expression as well as support others who are grieving.

Creators of any type of visual art or writing are encouraged to enter. The eighteen art categories include a broad range of options, such as architectural and industrial design, digital art, editorial cartooning, and video game design. In addition, the eleven writing categories range from critical essays and dramatic scripts to flash fiction and science fiction and fantasy. For a complete list of categories and to discover which art or writing category best describes their work, individuals drawn to this opportunity should visit the website: artandwriting.org/categories.

Works will be evaluated on originality, technical skill, and emergence of a personal voice or vision. Applicants should opt-in to the New York Life Award at the end of their applications to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and enter a personal statement of 50 words or more about how their work explores bereavement.

The National New York Life Award, sponsored by the New York Life Foundation, is part of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running and one of the most prestigious programs for recognizing the vision, ingenuity, and talent of our nation’s youth. Supporting the future of creativity since 1923, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards encourage, publish, and grant scholarships to celebrate creative production. Likewise, the Foundation, a facilitator of “people power,” invests in programs that benefit young people, particularly in the areas of educational enhancement and childhood bereavement support.

Another program supported by the Foundation is an awareness of children’s grief. In a partnership with the National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC), every November, they observe Children’s Grief Awareness Month. Together, they promote awareness of the needs of children and teens grieving a death and provide education and supportive resources. They encourage others to acknowledge this month by wearing blue and by hosting awareness events in their communities.

According to the NAGC, bereaved children are often referred to as the “forgotten mourners.” Many bereaved children feel isolated in their grief, unaware that they are not alone. Children’s Grief Awareness Month is an opportunity to tell children they are not forgotten and that there is support, hope, and healing to be found. The NAGC is committed to advocacy for bereaved children and to helping them find a voice.

The National New York Life Award supports one way for grieving youth to find and share their voices.