Each year, more than 3,500 high school students from across the country participate in the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. The scholarship contest began in 1979 to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism in youth.
The Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest is open to all students, including home-schooled students, in grades 9-12. Students must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. National with a maximum age of 18 at the time of local entry.
Beginning this program year (2018-19), two and three dimensional art will be accepted.
Two-dimensional art must be on canvas or paper. Watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen, ink, oil, marker or other media taught may be used.
Three-dimensional art may be paper, papier-mâché, pottery, clay, metal work, fabric, etc. Digital art, photography and jewelry are not accepted.
Art will be judged on patriotic theme and technique. One winner from each Department (state) will be forwarded to VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters.
Entries must be received by local VFW Auxiliary 7788 by March 31.
National awards:
- First place: $15,000 scholarship
- Second place: $7,500 scholarship
- Third place: $3,500 scholarship
- Fourth place: $1,500 scholarship
- Fifth through eighth place: $500 scholarship
To download the brochure and application, and to see previous year’s winning entries, visit vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships/young-american-creative-patriotic-art-contest/.
For more information, contact Christine Smith at 203-800-5181 or christine.smith235@yahoo.com.