Your Complete Guide to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Key Takeaways

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are for students in grades 7-12 who have a passion for writing or art.
To apply, you’ll need to submit your work in one of the 28 categories. Categories include: Architecture & Industrial Design, Ceramics & Glass, Comic Art, Design, Digital Art, Drawing & Illustration, Editorial Cartoon, Expanded Projects, Fashion, Film & Animation, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Art Portfolio (graduating seniors only), Critical Essay, Dramatic Script, Flash Fiction, Journalism, Humor, Novel Writing, Personal Essay & Memoir, Poetry, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Short Story, and Writing Portfolio (graduating seniors only).
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards open every fall. The regional winners are announced in January, and the national winners are announced in March.

Calling all creative teens! If you are a student who has a passion for writing or art, then you might consider entering the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. You can earn recognition, publication, and even scholarships for submitting your creative talent. Think you have what it takes? Let’s take a look at what the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are all about—including how they work, when you can apply, and even the scholarships you could win.

What Are the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards?

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards were established in 1923 and are one of the most prestigious recognition programs for art and writing. These awards honor creativity, originality, and skill in a wide range of artistic categories. You may even recognize the names of some of the past winners, such as Andy Warhol, Stephen King, and Sylvia Plath. Even after 100 years, this program still celebrates and supports the creative voices of middle and high school students.

What Are the Categories?

We know that “art and writing” can sound broad. So, what does that actually include? Think painting, sculpting, photography, poetry, and more—there’s a category for almost every creative passion. Browse through the categories that interest you below:

How To Enter the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

To enter the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, follow these three simple steps:

Create an account and connect your school.
Upload your work as quality photos and select the appropriate creative categories.
Complete your payment ($10.00 per individual entry or $30.00 per portfolio entry).

How It Works

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards aim to recognize teens for their creative talent. This starts at a local level.

Regional Recognition

All entries are first submitted in your home region, where you can earn one of the following three recognitions: Honorable Mention, Silver Key, or Gold Key. If you win a Gold Key, your work will be considered at the national level.

National Recognition

If you progress to the national awards with a Gold Key, you have the opportunity to earn a Gold or Silver Medal. Becoming a National Medalist can also lead to scholarships and the chance for your work to be published or exhibited.

National Ceremony

National Medalists are invited to celebrate at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This isn’t just your average celebration either—past guests have included Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, Kelly Clarkson, and Zac Posen. This is a big deal.

How Are the Awards Selected?

When it comes to selecting the winners of each award, Scholastic aims to make the process fair from the very beginning. Each submission will be judged blindly. This means the judges won’t know your name, background, age, gender, or race—your work will do all the talking. You can also trust that your work is in talented hands. Some past judges have included icons like Judy Blume, Langston Hughes, and David Sedaris.

So, What Exactly Are They Looking For?

Your work will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Originality: Trust in your own ability to create something great. Your work should be a reflection of your own ideas—not copied from someone else’s.
Skill: We’re not just talking about your flawless brush strokes or polished prose. The question here is: How do you use the skills you have to portray something meaningful?
Voice and Vision: What makes your work uniquely you? The judges are looking for pieces that feel personal and honest.

Who Can Participate in the Awards?

If you’d like to submit an entry to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, you must:

Be a student in grades 7-12.
Live in the United States, U.S. Territories, or Canada.
Submit work created within the current calendar year.

What Is the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Timeline?

Thinking these awards might be for you? This year could be your big opportunity! Here’s what the typical timeline looks like each year:

Summer

Get prepared by creating or putting the finishing touches on the work you’d like to submit. Don’t forget to take quality photos of your work!

Fall

Submissions are officially open! You can now upload your work and enter the competition.

December to January

Every region has different deadlines, so make sure you know exactly when yours is (you can check that here!).

January

Keep an eye on your inbox—this is when the regional results are announced.

March

If you’ve made it through regionals—cue the drumroll—March is when the National Medalists are revealed.

June

It’s time to celebrate! The National Medalists will travel to New York City and enjoy a night dedicated to them.

Fall (Again!)

A fresh season is revving up, and the cycle will begin again. Good luck!

What Kinds of Scholarships Are Available?

Participating in the awards can also help you win free money to pay for college. Scholastic offers six scholarships and cash awards, as well as one full-ride tuition scholarship:

1. American Voices & Visions Award

Award Amount: $500

This award is given to 150 students each year who submit an entry in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. To be considered, you must first win a Gold Key in your region. Judges can select up to five pieces of work from a region, although only one will be selected for each of the Voices (writing) and Visions (art) awards.

2. The Flaunt It Award

Award Amount: $2,000

Do you have a personal story you’d like to share that makes you unique? If so, you could be a good candidate for The Flaunt It Award. Whether it’s through writing or art, you’ll need to explore the theme: “The things that make me different make me, me.” You’ll apply by entering the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and then opting in for this award. You will also need to include a personal statement of at least 50 words.

3. New York Life Award

Award Amount: $2,500

This award is specifically for teens who use their art to depict death and personal grief. Grief is immensely personal and looks different for everyone who experiences it. Maybe your grief is challenging to talk about, so you express your feelings through art. If this resonates with you, apply by submitting your work in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and then opt in for the New York Life Award. You will need to include a personal statement that describes your experience with grief and how it relates to your art.

4. Portfolio Scholarships

Award Amount: $12,500 for Gold Medal winners; $2,000 for Silver Medal winners

If you are submitting a writing or art portfolio as a high school senior, then you could be considered for the Portfolio Scholarships. Your portfolio will need to include six original works, a personal statement (500 words or less), and a writer or artist statement (also 500 words or less).

The personal statement prompt is: “Write about you! Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.”

The writer/artist statement prompt is: “Write about your creative process: How did you select the works in your portfolio? Why do these works in particular belong together?”

5. The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon

Award Amount: $2,000

If you have a love for cartoons and exploring political topics, current events, or social issues, this award may be the perfect fit for you. To enter, submit your work to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and select the Editorial Cartoon category. Eligible work includes single-panel drawings with captions, sequential comic art, illustrations, animations, or digitally created drawings.

6. Best-in-Grade Award

Award Amount: $500

This award honors 24 teens (two from art and two from writing in each grade, 7-12). If selected, you’ll receive $500 as an encouragement to continue creating, support your college savings, and serve as an achievement to include on future college applications.

7. Scholastic Awards Summer (SAS) Scholarship Program

Award Amount: Full tuition to specific summer art or writing programs

Anyone who wins a Gold or Silver Key is eligible to apply for the SAS scholarship. This scholarship is unique because you don’t have to apply for multiple summer programs. Instead, if you are selected, Scholastic will place you into a program that works best for you. This is a highly competitive scholarship.

Are the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for You?

If you’re already a creative individual and reading about this opportunity has sparked your interest, then take the next step and submit your work to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Whether your passion lies in photography, sculpting, creative writing, poetry, or fashion, your art matters—and this is your chance to share it. There is always space for bold work and original voices. Let your work speak!

Want to turn your creative passion into a career? Use College Raptor’s Career Finder to explore paths that align with your talents. You can find colleges that are a great fit, look for job openings, and see average salaries for any career that interests you.

Your Complete Guide to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Key Takeaways

What Are the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards?

What Are the Categories?

ART CATEGORIES

Writing Categories

How To Enter the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards