Young Artists and Authors Showcase

2018 Young Artists and Authors Showcase entry depicting women from different cultures collectively knitting a blanket from different country flags

2020 Theme – “One World: Out of Many, We are One”

The deadline to submit entries is May 8, 2020

This year’s theme asks students to explore these questions by highlighting citizen diplomacy and the creative ways that we create peace through people-to-people interaction.

  • How can internationally engaged future leaders help communities address global challenges of – social unity and peace – in the 21st century?
  • How does international experience affect an individual or community’s ability to adapt?
  • What are some examples/illustrations of coming together and celebrating our humanity?

View and download the 2020 YAAS Flyer.

How to Enter

Students and member cities should send their art and/or literature, along with their corresponding completed entry form, to Sister Cities International by mail or by emailing youth@sistercities.org. Click on the photos below to download and complete your entry form.

Please note, due to school closures associated with COVID-19, SCI has extended the submission deadline until May 8, 2020.

Students must submit all materials by May 8, 2020.

Artwork Entry Forms

Young Artists and Authors Showcase entry depicting people working together to build a bridge over a river

Photography Entry Forms

Young Artists and Authors Showcase photograph entry depicting a ceramic jar with the Olympic rings

Literature Entry Forms

Young Artists and Authors Showcase entry depicting two hands coloring in a sphere with country flags on it

Before submitting to YAAS, please read our plagiarism policy.

Young Artists and Authors Showcase Guidelines

Art
  • Student must be 13-18 years old
  • Art must be two-dimensional, unframed, and no larger than 24 in x 36 in or 61 cm x 91.5 cm
  • One [1] piece of artwork will be accepted from each U.S. member community and one [1] piece of art from each of their Sister Cities
  • One [1] International Grand Prize Winner and one [1] U.S. Grand Prize Winner
  • Five [5] U.S. finalists and five [5] International finalists

Literature
  • Student must be 13-18 years old
  • Essays must be 500 words or less
  • Poems must be 200 words or less
  • Multiple entries allowed; limit of five [5] entries per classroom
  • One [1] Grand Prize Winner
  • Two [2] Essay finalists and two [2] Poetry finalists

Photography
  • Student must be 13-22 years old
  • Photos must be submitted via Instagram. Students must include @SisterCitiesInt, #YAAS2020 and their city/state/country in the Instagram caption
  • Multiple entries allowed; limit of five [5] entries per student
  • One [1] Grand Prize winner
  • Five [5] U.S. finalists and five [5] International finalists

About the Young Artists and Authors Showcase

The Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) is an annual contest that encourages youth worldwide to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork, literature, and photography.

Submissions are centered around an annual theme and judged based on originality, composition, and theme interpretation.

Selected Grand Prize Winners in each category (art, literature, and photography) win a $1000 prize. After the finalists for art, literature, and photography have been announced, their works are displayed in Sister Cities around the U.S. in a year-long tour.

Interested in hosting YAAS art in your city? See our hosting guidelines and reach out to our Youth Department.

Any Sister City program that is a member of Sister Cities international can participate in YAAS. The showcase is a great opportunity to engage local students, English teachers, and art teachers in your Sister City program.

View and download the 2020 YAAS Flyer.

2019 Winners Announced

See the 2019 Young Artists and Authors Showcase Winners on our blog! To view all the essay, poetry, photography and art submissions we received, check out our Tumblr page.

Previous Winners

See the 2018 Young Artists and Authors Showcase Winners on our blog.