WORLD HEART INITIATIVE'S
CONTEST
THEME: SUSTAINABILITY AND HOPE
World HEART Initiative's Art and Writing Contest is an opportunity for Lower and Middle School students to share their stories. We ask students to tell us what they think the world needs to know about climate change, sustainability, and the environment. This contest is largely open ended, and we encourage students to think outside the box and tell stories that only they can tell. The prompts below are for inspiration and ideas, but do not feel limited to them! We welcome any stories and any form of storytelling, including (but not limited to) drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, acting/skits, songs, short stories, poems, letters/speeches, and more. Open to all students entering 1st through 8th grade. Submissions will be judged based on the following qualities: authenticity, artistic voice, and execution of ideas.
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The contest opens on June 30, 2024.
Prompts
Note: Submissions will not be judged based on how closely they follow the prompts. Submissions should be a creative take on sustainability and the environment, but they do not have to fall into one of the following catagories.
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Write a letter to your future self about your fears and hopes for the future of the planet.
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Imagine you time travel 100 years into the future. What do you think would shock you the most? How would that make you think differently about sustainability?
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If you could invent or change one thing to save the environment, what would it be? How would it work? What challenges might you face?
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Imagine a perfectly sustainable society. How would it work? What are the differences between your society and our current one?
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Create a story about the last tree on earth. What would it have to say? What has it lost? What are its regrets? How does it feel about humans/humanity?
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Create something that expresses an unconventional thought or idea that you think needs to be said. Center your work on an issue that isn’t very talked about, an alternative way of thinking about environmentalism, a hidden obstacle, or a hot take on a familiar issue or idea. This can take the shape of an argumentative essay, a short story, a poem, a painting, a sculpture, a song, a short play, or anything else you think of. Use your imagination and think outside the box!
Prompts for Grades 1-4
1. What is something you think adults should know about helping the planet? Share your thoughts.
2. Draw or write about your favorite animal/place. Why is it your favorite?
3. Tell the story of someone who saves the earth.
Categories
Writing
Requirements:
1. Submissions must be between 250 and 750 words and must be the student's own original work.
2. Written submissions should be submitted as a pdf.
Art and Multimedia
1. Submissions must be the student's own original work.
2. Art should be submitted in the form of an image or video. Note: artists may submit no more than 5 photos or a video no longer than 5 minutes. Please submit in a format that best displays the artwork and more isn't necessarily better.
Note: If you have an existing project you would like to share that does not meet these requirements (ex. if it's a video that is longer than 5 minutes), please email us for more information.
Deadline:
All work must be submitted by August 15th, 2024.
How to Submit
In addition to your project, we ask you to include an artistic statement to introduce yourself and your work. It will be shared alongside your submission if your work is published on World HEART Initiative. Make sure that your project is accessible.
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You can submit your work here.
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You may only submit one project.
Example of an artistic statement:
My poem, The Last Tree, tells the story of the life of a 2000-year-old Redwood Tree that was born into a lush forest and outlived every other tree on earth. The tree, named Arbor, recounts several of the most meaningful moments in his long life, including watching a human family grow up, surviving a fire that killed most of the other trees, and being placed in a museum for "safekeeping." The Last Tree is a story of friendship, longing, and loss, and above all else a plea to change our behavior before it's too late.
Collaborations: If two or more people worked on the submission, please indicate so when you submit. Do not submit multiple times.
Note: By submitting, you are giving World Heart Initiative permission to publish your work on worldheartinitiative.com and other affilated platforms.
Sign up to World Heart Initiative's email list to recieve updates, reminders, and results.
Prizes
Winners will be chosen from both art and writing categories, and from both Lower School (Grades 1-4) and Middle School (Grades 5-8).
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1. One person from each category (Lower School Art, Lower School Writing, Middle School Art, and Middle School Writing) will receive a $100 prize.
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2. Your submission could be published to World Heart Initiative's website, instagram, and other associated platforms.
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3. Select works will be sent to the President of the United States.
Questions?
Email us at worldheartinitiative@gmail.com
For High Schoolers
Unfortunately we don't currently have an Art and Writing Contest for high school students. However, programs for high school and college students are in the works, so if you are interested, check out our Ambassadors Initiative to stay involved and help share the Art and Writing Contest for Middle and Lower Schoolers with your community. Outreach is an important and impactful action as well, and we rely on our Ambassadors to help us make an impact.