The Art & Writing Contest is an opportunity for young people who have visited the Museum or studied the Holocaust in their classrooms to respond creatively to what they have learned.
This important outreach program is dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million children who perished during the Holocaust. Cash prizes are awarded to the winners and winning submissions are displayed on the museum website.
Art & Writing Contest Official Rules
Use your creativity to express the difficult and inspiring lessons of the Holocaust.
Topics may include:
- Acts of courage and heroism
- Resistance and rescue
- The consequences of indifference
- Persecution, intolerance and injustice
- Preserving humanity in situations of great adversity
- History and lessons of the Holocaust
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, and submit an image of the art (or YouTube link) for judgement.
- 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.
- For tangible art submissions, the entry must be submitted as a JPG or PDF file with the name “[FULL NAME], [GRADE}, Art Submission for Judgement”
- For tangible art submissions, a second image must be submitted to verify the size and original work. In this picture, please include a ruler next to the piece and a post-it with the artist’s name. See contest rules for an example. Please title the file “[FULL NAME], [GRADE], Art Submission for Verification.” CLICK HERE to see a sample submission.
- 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.
PRIZES:
- First place winner in each category will receive $300 and a certificate.
- Second place winner in each category will receive $200 and a certificate.
- Third place winner in each category will receive $100 and a certificate.
- Honorable mention winners in each category will receive $25 and a certificate.
Winners must provide their address in order to receive the prize money.
Winning entries will be displayed on the Holocaust Museum website.
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 the 11:59 pm Monday, April 19, 2021 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, call (314) 442-3714. Entries must be submitted online no later than 11:59 pm on Monday, April 19, 2021.
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.