$750 Grand Prize
Hartford Area Contest
for Students to express
their creativity.
The prompts have been released for 2024!
YOU could be this year’s winner.
Exhibitions
Are you in grades 4 - 12?
Do you live in Hartford or attend a Hartford school?
If Yes, Congratulations... You Are Eligible to Enter This Year's Contest!
Hartford Creative Contest
- View Rules Here
The Art
2023 Winner - Ethereal Jayce Alers
What is Bullying, and why does it hurt people?
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”
Till your words become repetitive, again and again hitting the same spot until it’s sore.
BLACK and BLUE
until I mute.
Your sentences makes me wonder…
Why AM I HERE? IS IT TOO LATE TO GO?
Your words are far worse than your actions because they break me from the inside out.
It’s when I go cold, I go numb, I get choked, I get stomped
I repeat and repeat those soul-crushing words.
Manifesting them into my life.
I begin scratching my arms and pulling my hair.
I’m ugly and unlovable
My tears mirror what my ears hear
I’m a mistake, a hated distraction
My blood boils taking what my mind couldn’t handle
“Your gaining weight.” they laugh
I stop eating
“Your getting too skinny.” they point
I will never be enough.
“You deserve nothing!” they spat on my walking corpse.
A soul hidden within the deepest darkest shadow.
I deserve nothing not one thing at all
Not a smile or a hug
Not one thing at all.
Not a hi nor the smallest wave
Not one thing at all.
Not a blink nor a breathe
Not one thing at all.
Not a life left to live
Not one thing at all.
REPEAT IT TILL YOU BLEED IT THEN SAY IT ONCE MORE.
Not one thing at all. Not one thing at all. Not one thing at all. Not one thing at all.
You took what I couldn’t give.
You sculped me your own
Your words had hands that wrinkled my once smooth edges.
You took away my innocence.
My mind floods with self-hatred and yolk…
You fired me up till my pot began to crack.
You slammed me on concrete with absolutely no remorse.
YOUR WORDS ARE THE ACTIONS THAT KILLED ME.
I lied endless nights and ongoing rivers with a revenge plan that all ends with me.
I told myself you are the fault yet I am to blame.
But what do I do when the stars are no longer bright and the moon never says hi?
REPEAT IT TILL YOU BLEED IT THEN SAY IT ONCE MORE.
This life would probably be fine if those words were never heard.
Art By:
Iryna Vasylkiv
Programs
This year’s contest prompts
2024 Contest Prompts
- What is MY American Dream?
- My favorite way of expressing myself is…
- Where do I find beauty and/or struggle in my life?
- Me and Social Media: Pros and Cons
Guidelines
Accepted submissions can be in the form of an essay, poem, or artwork. All entries must relate directly to one of the above topics and follow these guidelines:
Essays
Must be TYPED on standard 8.5 X 11” paper.
Must be a minimum of 400 words and must not exceed 1,200 words
Poetry
Must be TYPED on standard 8.5 X 11” paper.
Must not exceed 2 pages.
Visual Art
Must be on paper or canvas no larger than 18 X 24”.
ALL ARTWORK must be accompanied by a short paragraph relating to the topic chosen.
ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE ENTRANT’S ORIGINAL WORK, NOT PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
Judging & Awards
Deadline is March 3th 2024
Entries in each category of essays, poetry and artwork will be divided into 3 grade-based sub-categories:
- 4 – 6
- 7 – 9
- 10 – 12
There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards given in each category.
Award Ceremony
TBD (MAY 2024)
The Award Ceremony is open to all winners in all categories, and each winner may invite 2 guests to share in the excitement.
Mark Twain House, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford.
What is the Hartford Creative Contest?
DEADLINE = MARCH 3, 2024
The Hartford Creative Contest is an annual competition open to all students attending schools, as well as those students who reside in Hartford and attend school in another Town or City.
The Contest is open to students in grades 4-12.
The Hartford Creative Contest has grown and expanded over the years, and now accepts both essays and poems for written submissions, and artwork for those who prefer that medium.
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