From The Stacks

Who:

Teens in middle school and high school

When:

August 1-August 31

What:

For the past two years the Bellevue Friends of the Library have generously supported a writing contest for Bellevue teens. This year we are expanding the contest with the help of Bellevue Arts Museum to include a visual arts category. There are other changes as well:

The contest theme is quilts. Bellevue Arts Museum is hosting an exhibit called Bold Expressions: African American Quilts From The Collection Of Corrine Riley. Please view the exhibit and write a poem or story, or create a visual art piece inspired by the quilts. Poetry about unrequited love is fine, but it still must follow the theme of quilts. Quilts can keep you warm, but they can also smother. The possibilities are endless here.

How:

There are several ways to view this exhibit:

• Go to the museum. It doesn’t need to be expensive! There are Free First Fridays, Teen Tix, or free passes through the King County Library System.
• View several quilts from the exhibit website. Scroll through twelve quilt photos for your inspiration.

Create something amazing. Email it to writingcontest@kcls.org. Poems and fiction must be pasted directly into the body of the email. No attachments, special fonts or images. Poems no longer than 100 words, fiction no longer than 1000 words.

For visual art, please attach a .jpg file of your art and email it to writingcontest@kcls.org. The 2D visual piece may be no larger than larger than  10”x16”, 16” x 20” or 22.5” x 26.5”.  3D pieces may be no taller than 3’.

Why:

Fame and fabulous prizes! Top poem, story and visual art piece will be displayed at the Bellevue Library, appear in print in the Bellevue Reporter and win a $50 gift card to University Bookstore and a student membership to Bellevue Arts Museum. A better question might be, why not?

Here is the fine print. Read it.

All entries must be emailed to writingcontest@kcls.org. Emails must include name, age and phone number of author/artist, word count and title of work and short artist statement. Middle and high school students only. Submissions will not be accepted until August 1. Entries must be received no later than midnight, August 31. Contest will be judged by a panel of teen librarians and Bellevue Arts Museum staff. View or download the official brochure here.