VCCS Poetry & Art Competition

ELIGIBILITY

Both the Visual Art Luminary award and the Poet Laureate competition are open to all students who are enrolled at least part-time in adult education, workforce credential, certificate, or degree programs at a participating Virginia Community College in Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and/or Spring 2024.

Applicants may submit materials only to the college within their region to enable them to accept college and service region invitations. Dual enrollment or early college students under age 18 must be able to secure parental permission. Students who live out of state may submit only to the college serving their region.

Special
Note: Applicants who submit incomplete applications by the college’s deadline will not be considered. Those selected to advance will be asked to complete an official application.

ACCEPTED WORKS

Visual Arts: The competition is open to the following types of work: drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture. We are unable to accept works of video, film, performance art, jewelry, or craft. Artworks created using artificial intelligence (AI-ART) are not eligible.

Poet Laureate: The competition is open to poems and prose poems.

Submissions should not be sexually explicit, violent, or racist.

JUDGING

Visual Arts: The selection of the Visual Art Luminary award is a competitive process that includes a completed interest application and submission of one original artwork related to the theme, “I Belong.”  An image of the winning artwork from each participating college will be featured at the New Horizons Conference, the state Poet Laureate competition, and in a publication. The VCCS is exploring other opportunities to exhibit winning work.

Poet Laureate: The selection of the Poet Laureate is a competitive process that includes a completed application, submission of original poetry, and performance of original poetry related to the theme, “I Belong.”  At the systemwide competition, college laureates will be evaluated on the following criteria: original poetry (the three initial submissions plus two additional poems); the live performance of original poetry; and an interview with a panel of judges.

 

Fill out the interest application now!

Contacts

Anca Garcia

Anca Garcia

Assistant Professor of English