New York,
NY (June
3,
2008) --
The next Andy Warhol, Truman Capote or Joyce Carol Oates could be crossing the stage at Carnegie Hall this Thursday, June 5th, as the nation’s most talented young writers and artists are honored at
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The national program, now celebrating its 85th anniversary, offers early recognition of creative teenagers and scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors. This year more than 500 creative teens will travel to New York City to have their achievements celebrated by family, industry leaders, educators and patrons, along with Academy Award-winning actress
Kathy Bates, singer-songwriter
Mike Doughty and Award alums artist
Philip Pearlstein (1941 and 1942) and author
Joyce Maynard (1966-1971).
As part of the celebration, select artwork and writing will be on public display at three highly respected New York City galleries:
White Columns (May 29-June 6),
Reeves Contemporary (June 4-7) and
NYArts Broadway Gallery (June 2-13). The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the nonprofit organization that administers The Awards, will also offer national recipients a special workshop series in New York City, including cultural and career seminars at professional institutions, such as the
Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, the
New York Public Library, Atlantic Theater Company, The New Museum and
BlipTV.
“For 85 years, The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have encouraged countless young writers and artists,” said Virginia McEnerney, Executive Director of the Alliance. “This year, we are celebrating the many directions a creative life can take by honoring our illustrious alumni alongside our national award winners.”
Since Scholastic founded the program in 1923, The Awards have recognized such distinguished past recipients as Richard Avedon, Mel Bochner, Truman Capote, Robert Indiana, John Lithgow, Bernard Malamud, Joyce Maynard, Sue Miller, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Otterness, Sylvia Plath, Zac Posen, Robert Redford, Andy Warhol and Sherley Anne Williams, who all received awards when they were in high school.
Each year, the Alliance receives tens of thousands of works of art and writing, submitted through regional affiliate programs across the nation for consideration in 25 categories of art and writing. The submissions are evaluated locally and nationally by a panel of jurors comprised of renowned artists, authors, educators and arts professionals.
Visit
www.artandwriting.org for more information about The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.
**Student interviews, work samples or complete list of recipients are available upon request.**
