Elementary and middle school students can put their creative skills to work in helping to celebrate the nation's upcoming 250th birthday, Second Lady Usha Vance announced on Tuesday.
As part of the Bookmark Design Challenge, Vance asks young artists to create an original, hand-drawn bookmark reflecting what the United States means to them. This can include illustrations of American history and traditions, symbols of unity and democracy, innovation and creativity, ideas about community, or hopes for the nation’s future.
Students are welcome to theme “freely and creatively” using whatever art materials they choose, Vance said in a Feb. 17 news release issued by the National Endowment for the Arts.
“I hope the winning bookmarks will inspire the kids to pick up a book and learn something new about our country as part of my Summer Reading Challenge,” she said.
This contest is open to students in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and all five U.S. territories. National winners will be selected across three grade bands—K–2, 2–5, and 6–8.
No AI Creations Allowed
The website details the rules and requirements. Students can draw, sketch, or paint their original work within the outline of the provided bookmark template using pencils, pastels, crayons, or markers, but designs created with a computer sketchpad or other digital devices are not allowed. Works designed by artificial intelligence will be disqualified.Submissions containing profanity, political content, partisan imagery, depictions of political controversy, or content of a sensationalistic or gruesome nature will be disqualified. Corporate logos, copyrighted materials, product brands, names of schools, teams, or mascots, and personally identifiable information of students, such as last names, are also not allowed.
Entries will be judged based on the merit of their themes as well as composition, design, and attention to detail.
The winning designs will be shown as part of Vance’s Summer Reading Challenge and shared during various events commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, including the Great American State Fair, scheduled for June 25 through July 10 in Washington, D.C. Each winner will be invited to appear with a parent for one day at that fair, according to the release.
Mary Anne Carter, National Endowment for the Arts chair, said her organization is proud to invite young people to “reflect on what our country means to them through creativity.”
“It’s an honor to work with the Office of the Second Lady to celebrate the imagination and curiosity of our nation’s students while highlighting the vital role the arts play in helping us to understand our history, our communities, and our shared future,” she said in a statement.