We are now accepting applications for the 2022 Art & Writing Contest! Please read the contest rules in their entirety. Click here to submit your work.
PROMPT: Upon its grand reopening in late summer 2022, the newly expanded and renovated St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum will empower a new generation to build dreams of a better future upon the memories of the past.
This year, we also commemorate an important anniversary. Eighty years ago, in July 1942, Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in the “Secret Annex,” a small, hidden set of rooms in a large building in Amsterdam.
Anne’s voice and her story have resonated long after her death. That’s why we’ve chosen one of her most powerful quotes as the basis of this year’s Art & Writing Contest theme:
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
Use this quote as inspiration for your artwork and written pieces. Some ideas you may consider:
- What does it mean to “improve the world” in a single moment?
- How you might use what you’ve learned about the Holocaust to “improve the world.”
- How might a Holocaust museum create impact in the world outside of its walls?
- How has learning about the Holocaust affected to way you interact with the people around you?
Use your imagination! This list is just a start and is not inclusive of every approach to this theme. We hope you’ll incorporate your creative approaches to the prompt in your work. Consider ways to create artwork or writing that knits together the lessons and memories of the past with the promise of a better future.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- Monday, April 25 (11:59pm)—Deadline for all online submissions.
- Tuesday, April 26 (4:30pm)—All artwork must be at the Museum (postmark not accepted). Online form must be submitted by April 25 deadline.
- Friday, May 20—Winners will be announced by this date.
- Friday, May 20-Friday, June 29—Non-winners may pick up their artwork at Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Drive, 63146. After June 29, non-winning artwork will be discarded, as we do not have the capacity to store it.
- Early Summer—Winners and their teachers are invited to an exclusive pre-opening event.
- Spring 2023—Winners will be contacted to with details on picking up their artwork.
CONTEST ELIGIBILITY:
There will be two divisions for both the Art and Writing categories.
A student may submit only one entry in each category.
The art or writing must not have been previously submitted to any other contest.
Division 1 will include grades 6-8
Division 2 will include grades 9-12
WRITING CONTEST:
Students may write a poem, newspaper article, story, play/dialogue or essay.
- The entry must show evidence of thoughtful research, creativity and interpretation.
- The entry may not exceed 1,000 words, must be typed and double-spaced.
- The entry must be submitted as a PDF file with the name “[FULL NAME], [GRADE], Writing Submission.”
- A panel of judges will evaluate the entry on content, originality, quality of expression and accuracy.
ART CONTEST:
Students may create a sculpture, drawing, photograph, painting, poster, collage or five-minute video.
Requirements:
- The entry must represent the independent effort of the student.
- The art entry may not exceed the dimensions of 20” x 20”.
- The sculpture entry may not exceed 18” x 18” x 18”.
- For safety reasons, art (painting or sculpture) may NOT include real barbed wire, jagged glass or plastic.
- All charcoal, chalk and pastels must be treated with fixatives.
- For video art submissions, the entry must be a link to the video on YouTube.
- A panel of judges will evaluate the entry for creativity, excellence and content.
How to submit tangible artwork:
- Complete the online submission form.
- After submitting the online form, an automatic email with the subject “Print and Attach to Art Submission” will be sent to the email address provided. Print the entire document and include it with the piece.
- Mail or deliver contest entries to:
St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum
Attn: Lory Cooper
12 Millstone Campus Drive
St. Louis, MO 63146
If you drop off your artwork, you may leave it at the front desk of the St. Louis Jewish Federation Building (located at the same address). Drop offs and deliveries are accepted weekdays 9am-4:30pm (3:30pm on Friday).
All artwork must be at the Museum by 4:30 pm Tuesday, April 26 (with the online form submitted by 11:59 pm on April 25). Postmark not accepted.
How to retrieve artwork after the contest:
Due to limited storage constraints, the Museum will not be able to retain artwork after this period.
- Non-winners will be able to pick up their artwork May 20-June 29 in the lobby of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis building. The artwork is available for pickup May 20-June 29 weekdays 9am-4:30pm (3:30pm on Friday). After this period, artwork will be discarded.
- The winners’ artwork will be on display at the Museum through the opening. The winners will receive an email in spring 2023 about when they may pick up their artwork.
PRIZES:
- First place winner in each category will receive $300.
- Second place winner in each category will receive $200.
- Third place winner in each category will receive $100.
- Honorable mention winners in each category will receive $25.
Winners must provide their address in order to receive the prize money.
Winning entries will be displayed on the Holocaust Museum website and in the new Museum.
ENTRIES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
- Plagiarism.
- A parent/guardian replies the student does not have permission to participate.
- Entry does not adhere to guidelines as stated.
- Entry is received after the11:59pm Monday, April 25, 2022 deadline.
All entries remain the property of the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. By your participation in the contest, you grant the Museum permission to publish the winning entries and names in brochures, flyers, online, other Museum publications and exhibitions. Photo reproductions of the winning entries may also be made available to the news media. For additional information,
Contact Lory Cooper at lcooper@stlholocaustmuseum.org or (314) 442-3710. Entries must be submitted online no later than 11:59 pm on Monday, April 25, 2022.
CLICK HERE to submit your art or writing submission.
2021 Art & Writing Contest Winners
VISUAL ARTS – Division 1, Middle School
First Place: $300
Overcoming
Noelle Fillingham
Parkway South Middle
8th Grade
Teacher: Ms. Karen Silverman
Second Place: $200
Fighting Through
Drew Mathers
Selvidge Middle School
8th Grade
Teacher: Mr. Anthony DeCarli
Third Place: $100
The Unbearable Loss
Erica Zirkelbach
St. Mary of Vernon (Indian Creek, Illinois)
8th Grade
Teacher: Ms. Mary Trentman
Honorable Mentions: $25
Indifference
Maria Rottler
Ste. Genevieve Middle School
8th Grade
Teacher: Ms. Rebecca Keim
Lost Lives
Kayla Young
Ste. Genevieve Middle School
8th Grade
Teacher: Ms. Rebecca Keim
VISUAL ARTS – Division 2, High School
First Place: $300
Kurt Messerschmidt: The Importance of Faith During the Holocaust
Alexander Fan
Centennial High School (Bakersfield, CA)
11th Grade
Teacher: Ms. Shanna Treanor
Second Place: $200
Fear and Hope
Anish Aradhey
Harrisonburg High School (Harrisonburg, VA)
10th Grade
Teacher: Ms. Sarah Waldrop
Third Place: $100
Anne Frank: A Letter from Amsterdam
Angelina Shen
MICDS
9th Grade
Teacher: Ms. Tanya Roth
Honorable Mentions: $25
Hope in Hardships
Katelyn Montgomery
Glenwood High School (Chatham, IL)
11th Grade
Teacher: Mr. Brent Duggins
They All Suffered
Maya Chadwick
Belleville East High School
10th Grade
Teacher: Mr. Daniel Boyt
WRITING – Division 1, Middle School
First Place: $300
Life After the Holocaust
Josephine Carollo
Ste. Genevieve du Bois
8th Grade
Teacher: Ms. Hannah Rettig
Second Place: $200
A Girl
Estella Garritano
Wildwood Middle School
8th Grade
Teacher: Brooke Stromsdorfer
WRITING – Division 2, High School
First Place: $300
Hope Makes You Free: Dita Kraus’s Story
Grace Hanvey
Highland High School (Alhambra, IL)
10th Grade
Teacher: Mr. Matthew Lewis
Second Place: $200
Until They Were No More
Carly Seal
Homeschool
9th Grade
Teacher: Ms. Katie Seal
Special thanks to our contest judges:
Writing
Andrea Brownstein, Nancy Keyser, Richard Jackoway
Visual Arts
Jeff Hartz, Jeane Vogel, Lois Rubin
For more information, contact Dan Reich at 314-442-3714 or DReich@StlHolocaustMuseum.org.