NYC Scholastic Awards
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have an impressive legacy dating back to 1923, and a noteworthy roster of past winners including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, Amanda Gorman and Paul Chan. Teens in grades 7-12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published.
Luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients, serve as jurors for submissions. Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.
The Awards continue to be the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the United States.
The New York City Regional Program of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is sponsored, in part, by Scholastic Inc., The Maurice R. Robinson Fund, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Dedalus Foundation, Robert Lehman Foundation, William Talbott Hillman Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
REGIONAL AWARDS
Gold Key: The highest level of achievement on the regional level. All Gold Key awarded entries are considered for national-level recognition.
Silver Key: Entries demonstrating high honors on the regional level.
Honorable Mention: Entries demonstrating an impressive effort.
American Visions & Voices Nominees: Five works are selected out of all Gold Key works (across all categories) as the “Best in Show” for each region.
NATIONAL AWARDS
All regional entries that receive Gold Keys are automatically considered for national awards.
Gold Medal: The most outstanding work in the nation.
Silver Medal: Works demonstrating high honors on the national level.
American Visions & Voices Medal: An esteemed panel of jurors selects the best of the five American Voices & Visions Nominees from each region to receive national recognition with the American Visions & Voices Medal.
EXHIBITION
The 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: New York City Regional Exhibition, featuring Gold Key art and writing, was on view to the public from Friday, March 28 – Sunday, May 18, 2025 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Uris Center for Education.
PUBLICATION
Selections from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are published in the annual publications. Check out the 2025 Scholastic Awards Art Anthology, Writing Anthology, and yearbook, which are distributed free of charge to schools and libraries nationwide. Works have also appeared in Scholastic publications including The Best Young Writers & Artists in America (Push), Scope magazine, Junior Scholastic magazine, Scholastic Art magazine, and The New York Times Upfront magazine.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Scholastic Awards distribute more than $350,000 annually in awards and scholarships to top Scholastic Award recipients and their educators. National Medalists can leverage their success in the Scholastic Awards for tuition aid from a network of more than fifty top partnering universities, colleges, and art schools.
For more information, please visit the website.