Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the longest-running, oldest, and most prestigious literary and art competition in the United States, aiming to find creative works and original technical skills by students in grades 7-12.

Interested in the competition?

Competition Overview

Grade 7-12 (ages 13 and up)

Eligibility

$10 per individual entry and $30 per portfolio

Entry fee

December 1, 2025 - January 6, 2026 (depending on the region)

Submission deadline

January 28, 2026

Regional Awards Announcement

March 25, 2026

National Awards Announcement

June 9–June 11, 2026

National Awards Week

Competition Details

1. Introduction

Since 1923, the Academic Art and Writing Award has recognized young people’s vision, originality, and talent, and has provided opportunities and academic awards for creative young people to express their talent. The high school award symbolizes the pursuit of excellence and will help students stand out in university and scholarship applications.

2. Eligibility

Students must be in grades 7–12, age 13 years or older as of the date of entry, and residing in the United States, U.S. territories or military bases, or Canada.

3. Categories

The Scholastic Awards offers 28 categories of art and writing.

Art Categories: 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)

Writing Categories: Critical Essay, Dramatic Script, Flash Fiction, Journalism, Humor, Novel Writing, Personal Essay & Memoir, Poetry, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Short Story, Writing Portfolio (graduating seniors)

4. Prizes

Students are eligible for many awards, exhibitions, publications, and scholarships.

Regional Awards include Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention
National Awards include Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and scholarship awards
American Voices or Visions Awards: selected from nominated Regional Gold Key students.
Award-winning students will also earn the chance to be featured in the exhibition and publication each year. Students are also eligible for cash awards, academic scholarships that can be up to $10,000, and tuition-based scholarships that can cover anywhere from a portion to the entirety of tuition costs.

How to Stand out in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards?

Check out resources provided by Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers has provided three resources: the Art Portfolio Panel, Writing Portfolio Panel, and a walkthrough on Uploading Portfolios. In the videos, the panelists share their advice on what makes a strong portfolio and how to showcase your unique voice, vision, and thoughts.

Be original

One of the core values mentioned in the judging criteria is originality, meaning that although your work can be inspired by other things, in order to stand out, it needs to come from your own experience and imagination. Make sure to give yourself adequate time to develop your ideas and make sure they truly express your personal values and vision.

Prepare your technical skills

Technical skills in art and writing are often not as straightforward as other disciplines. The best art or writing comes from constant practice and learning from failure.