39th Annual Akron-Summit Holocaust Arts and Writing Contest

Entries Due by January 22nd, 2027

Drop visual art entries with the completed entry form and your physical artwork submission on January 22nd, 2027 at the Ohio Building, 175 S. Main St., Akron-8^th floor between 11am and 6pm EST. I will be there all day and am happy to assist you anyway I can with the drop off process. If you have any trouble finding the building or need anything else on drop off day please feel free to call or text me at (234) 200-6241. Make sure all visual art pieces have the student’s name and teacher’s last name or school discreetly written on the back. Good luck!

If you have any questions or concerns about the deadline please contact the contest administrator Laura Ralph.

• If you have any trouble submitting your entry form email akronsummitholocausteducation@gmail.com This year there is a new submission format and we will do our best to help you address any submission issues.

2027 Contest Theme: Lessons of the Holocaust Then and Now: The Role of Upstanders

2027 Writing Contest Entry Form

2027 Visual Art Contest Entry Form

2027 Resources for this year’s theme Lessons of the Holocaust Then and Now: The Role of Upstanders – Available through Akron-Summit County Public Library

ALL RESOURCES LISTED ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE AKRON-SUMMIT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. RESOURCES FROM OUR APPROVED PREVIOUS YEARS LISTS ARE ALSO ACCEPTABLE

Visual Art Requirements & Guidelines

Consent to use photographs of minor(s) in artwork

Writing Requirements & Guidelines

Rubrics

2027 Art and Writing Scoring Rubric

Entry Advice:

2027 Theme: “Lessons of the Holocaust Then and Now: The Role of Upstanders” Make sure all entry concepts are rooted in the Holocaust, meaning should begin in Holocaust even if it also relates to now.

Previous Contest Winners

Winners will be chosen based on interpretation of the contest theme, rooted in Holocaust, technique, originality and use of proper sources. Chosen pieces will be displayed in an exhibit at the Akron-Summit Main Library in the spring and online at AkronSummitHolocaustEducation.org.

• First, Second, Third and Fourth Place winners in each of the four categories will receive a prize as will the teacher of each first place winner. Both the Arts and the Writing Contest have a Division I (6th-8th grade) and Division II (9th-12th grade). In Jewish Culture giving money in multiples of $18 is symbolic of giving “chai” or life. Depending on number and quality of entries received not all prizes may be awarded.
  • 1st place- $324
  • 2nd place- $180
  • 3rd place- $90
  • 4th place- $36 
  • Teachers of the 1st place winners will receive $200 to purchase books from the ‘Lessons of the Holocaust: The Role of Upstanders‘ above curated by Holocaust expert Barb White.
  • Monetary prizes may be distributed in the form of a Visa Gift Card
• Winners will receive certificates and their prizes on May 4th, 2027, 6:00pm-7:45pm. These will be presented at the Akron-Summit Holocaust Commemoration and Awards Ceremony at the Main Akron-Summit County Public Library Auditorium. All participants will receive a certificate of participation and be invited to the Commemoration Ceremony.