Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2027 (USA-CANADA)
A Prestigious Competition for Young Artists and Writers in the United States and Canada
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is one of the longest-running programs recognizing creative teenagers. Founded in 1923, the program gives young artists and writers opportunities for regional and national recognition, exhibitions, publications, and scholarships.
Competition Details
Competition: Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2027
Organizer: Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Eligibility: 🇺🇸 United States + 🇨🇦 Canada (excluding Quebec)
Eligible students: Grades 7–12, age 13 and older
Opening date: October 1, 2026
First regional deadline: December 1, 2026
Regional deadlines: December 1, 2026 – January 6, 2027, depending on region
Entry fee: $15 per individual entry
Portfolio fee: $40
Fee waivers: Available to eligible students who cannot afford the entry fee.
Who Can Enter?
Students must:
- Be in grades 7–12,
- Be at least 13 years old at the time of entry, and
- Attend school and reside in the United States, U.S. territories or military bases, or Canada, excluding Quebec.
Students who live outside these areas are not eligible, even if they attend a U.S.-accredited school located outside the eligible geographic areas.
Art Categories
The 2027 Awards offer a wide range of art categories, including:
- Architecture & Industrial Design
- Ceramics & Glass
- Comic Art
- Conceptual, Installation & Participatory Art
- Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage
- Drawing
- Editorial Cartoon
- Experimental Photography
- Fashion
- Film & Animation
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Jewelry
- Mixed Media
- Painting
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Art Portfolio
Writing categories include poetry, short story, novel, journalism, critical essay, personal essay & memoir, screenplays & scripts, speculative fiction, and more.
Visual Arts
The Painting category accepts works created with media including oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, tempera, ink, encaustic, and spray paint.
The Drawing category includes work made with dry materials such as pencil, charcoal, and ink.
Students can also enter Illustration, Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage, Mixed Media, Photography, Sculpture, Printmaking, and other categories.
Theme
There is no required overall theme. Students are encouraged to explore their own ideas, subjects, and creative perspectives.
Jurors consider three core values when reviewing entries:
- Originality
- Skill
- The emergence of a personal voice or vision
AI Policy
The Scholastic Awards allow AI technologies to assist with parts of the creative process, such as brainstorming or outlining.
However, the final submitted work may not itself be AI-generated. Work that is primarily generated automatically by AI with minimal or no human interaction is ineligible.
Entry Fees
Individual entry: $15
Portfolio entry: $40
Eligible students who cannot afford the entry fee may request a fee waiver through the entry process.
Awards
At the regional level, students may receive:
- Gold Key
- Silver Key
- Honorable Mention
- American Visions Nominee
- American Voices Nominee
Gold Key works automatically advance to national judging.
National awards include:
- Gold Medal
- Silver Medal
- Gold Medal Portfolio Award
- Silver Medal Portfolio Award
- Honorable Mention Portfolio Award
- American Voices & Visions Award
- Best-in-Grade Award
- The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon
- New York Life Award
National Medalists receive certificates and medals and are considered for national exhibitions, publications, and scholarship opportunities. Gold Medalists are invited to the National Ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
National Medalists may also be considered for scholarships of up to $12,500.
Important Dates
October 1, 2026: 2027 Awards open
December 1, 2026: First regional deadline
January 6, 2027: Some regions have deadlines as late as this date
January 27, 2027: Regional Announcement Day
March 31, 2027: National Announcement Day
June 8–11, 2027: National Awards Week in New York City
Important: There is no single national entry deadline. The deadline depends on the student’s regional program, and art and writing deadlines may differ. Students should use the official Region Locator to confirm their exact deadline.
Official Website
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards – Official Website
Important: This is not a U.S.-only competition. It is open to eligible students residing in the United States and Canada, excluding Quebec.