NRDC Youth Corps

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Natural Resources Defense Council Youth Corps

Second Annual

Art and Writing Competition

Open to U.S. High School Students, Grades 9-12

 

 

The Natural Resources Defense Council Youth Corps was founded in 2012 to spread awareness of the environmental issues affecting the Chicago area and the nation. The group includes students from New Trier High School, North Shore Country Day School, Loyola Academy, the Latin School of Chicago, Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest High School, Tabor Academy, The Taft School, and The Thacher School.

 

 

A Contest Created by Students for Students:

Nature has long been the inspiration for art. We want to encourage you to explore the natural beauty that surrounds you and let that beauty inspire your creativity.  By translating what you see and feel from nature into creative works or art and literature, we hope you’ll recognize the urgent need to protect the environment. The NRDC Youth Corps wants to celebrate the role young people can play in that protection. Although we rely on nature for such necessities as clean air, water, food, and well-being, we often neglect it when we should be protecting it.

 

DIVISION I: VISUAL ARTS

Class 1: PHOTOGRAPHY

(Subclass A: Landscape, Subclass B: Nature with animals and/or humans)

Class 2: PAINTING AND DRAWING

Class 3: SCULPTURE AND CERAMICS

Class 4: PAR CLASS (any of the above media, open only to NRDC Youth Corps members) Guidelines for submissions to the art contest:

1. The submission must include elements of the natural world. (For example, animals, plants, landscape, air, water, may inspire or focus students’ visions for their work.)

2. There are no geographical boundaries.

3. All submissions must be in the form of a digital photograph (not to exceed 25MB). In the case of three-dimensional artwork, the contestant may submit no more than four photographs to reveal the views from each side.

4. Contestants may enter only one piece of artwork per class (i.e., 1 photo, 1 painting, 1 sculpture).

5. Winners will be recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council, and winning entries may be chosen to for display at the NRDC’s Midwest headquarters in Chicago.

6. Each submission must contain the following information: (1.) name; (2.) educational institution, including city and state; (3.) grade level; (4.) title of work; (5.) digital photograph of the work (not to exceed 25MB); and (6.) the following statement: I certify that this is my own work and that it may be selected to appear on the NRDC Youth Corps website or social media. The following information is optional: (1.) location/geographic formation represented; and (2.) statement of intent (a statement of no longer than 25 words that explains what your artistic objective was).

7. Submissions should be emailed to nrdcyouthcorps@gmail.com and must be digital only. No physical submissions will be accepted or judged. Three-dimensional objects may be represented with a maximum of four photos.

8. The artwork/photos should have no identifying markers. Each submission will be judged blind by a panel of experts and will be evaluated on the basis of artistic merit, creativity, and environmental interest. Each class may offer recognition for First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention awards, although judges have sole discretion as to the decision to award any honors beyond First Prize.

9. The deadline for submissions is midnight on April 22, 2018.

10. Winners will be announced by email on June 14, 2018. Winners’ names and entries may appearin NRDC Youth Corps press releases and on NRDC Youth Corps social media and website.

11. Any clarifications to rules will be made to all entrants on the NRDC Youth Corps website: http://nrdcyouthcorps.wixsite.com/nrdc.

12. NRDC Youth Corps members may enter only the Par Classes and are not eligible to win the division prizes.

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DIVISION II: LITERARY ARTS

Class 1: POETRY

Class2: SHORT FICTION

Class 3: PERSONAL NARRATIVE

Class 4: PAR CLASS (any of the above media, open only to NRDC Youth Corps members)

Guidelines for submission to the literary arts division:

The submission must include reference(s) to the natural world.

1. All submissions must be in the form of a PDF or Word document (not to exceed 2,000 words).

2. Contestants may enter only one piece of written work per class (i.e., 1 poem, 1 short story, 1 personal narrative).

3. Winners will be recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council, and winning entries may be choose to display their works at the NRDC’s Midwest headquarters in Chicago.

4. Each submission must contain the following information: (1.) name; (2.) educational institution, including city and state; (3.) grade level; (4.) title of work; (5.) PDF or Word document (not to exceed 2,000 words); and (6.) the following statement: I certify that this is my own work and that it (or a portion of it) may be selected to appear on the NRDC Youth Corps website or social media.

5. Submissions should be emailed to nrdcyouthcorps@gmail.com and must be digital only. No hard copy submissions will be accepted or judged.

6. The documents should have no identifying markers. Each submission will be judged blind by a panel of experts and will be evaluated on the basis of literary merit, creativity, and environmental interest. Each class may offer recognition for First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention awards.

7. The deadline for submissions is midnight on April 22, 2018.

8. Winners will be announced by email on June 14, 2018. Winners’ names and entries (or portions of entries) may appear in NRDC Youth Corps press releases and on NRDC Youth Corps social media and website.

9. Any clarifications to rules will be made to all entrants on the NRDC Youth Corps website: http://nrdcyouthcorps.wixsite.com/nrdc.

10. NRDC Youth Corps members may enter only the Par Classes and are not eligible to win the division prizes.

 

Note: In instances of a higher volume of entries, some judging panels may choose to award additional recognition beyond first prize per class.
 

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