Art and Essay Contest

The Atlantic Institute Art and Essay Contest is a wonderful project that requires community support to be successful. Every year there is a thought-provoking theme that is publicized among the teachers and schools across South Carolina. The themes of the contest are intended to create original ideas and understanding through art and reflective writings.

The purity of emotion and thought that children bring to such challenges quite often bring us to new ideas and a new way of looking at the world around us. We are certain that the seeds that are planted in young minds today through this project will bear fruit in the long term for the benefit of our society.

Previous years themes include "Connecting Cultures in the Digital Age: How Does Social Media Change the Future of Our World?", "The Human Footprint on the Environment: Impacts and Solutions", "1 Billion Hungry in the World: What is your Role?" and "Who is Your Neighbor?" Students submit gorgeous artwork and emotionally moving essays to our professional judges. The panel of expert judges evaluates all submissions, determining winners in each category (art, essay) and in each division (middle, high). All the students receive a tiered level of cash and or gift card prizes. First place winners receive along with free Trip to Peru. The top three students from each category and division all win a trip to Peru, and the first-place student’s teachers win a trip as well.

Our foundation sponsors all the expenses (meals, lodging, and transportation) in Peru as part of the trip prize. The students and teachers, however, are responsible for their own airfare to and from Peru.

The entire prizes for the art and essay contest range from $50,000 to $60,000, which includes prizes, booklets, advertisements, websites, auditorium costs, and trip expenses.

This year's theme is "Building Community: The Role of Teens" The contest will be kicked off in August when the school year starts. The submission due date will be revealed soon, and the awards ceremony will take place in early 2019.

The contest reaches all the school districts in South Carolina and over 30,000 students, teachers, principals and parents.

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