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WINTER CREATIVITY CONTEST


 

2025 WINNERS


Writing - Middle School (grades 6-8)
  • 1st Place: Miriam M., A Watchful Eye
  • 2nd Place: Leila M., My Name: A Story Told in Vignettes
  • 3rd Place: Aika P., The Last Descendant of the Flower Princess: Part II
  • Honorable Mentions: Carmen F-G., Caroline S., Cate F., Mary C.A.
 Writing - High School (grades 9-12)
  • 1st Place: Katerina S., Mirror, Mirror
  • 2nd Place: Madesen L., Expedition
  • 3rd Place (tie):
    • Hanna S., Understudy
    • Julia R., "the only way out is through"
  • Honorable Mentions: Eliot S., Olga V.
 2D visual art - Middle School (grades 6-8)
  • 1st Place: Kyndall F., Self Orbit
  • 2nd Place: Alicia I., Looking Ahead
  • 3rd Place: Viraj N., Coral Reefs - Rainforests of the Sea
  • Honorable Mention: Ava B.
2D visual art - High School (grades 9-12)
  • 1st Place: Jordan F., Out My Window
  • 2nd Place: Caroline B., Dreamscape
  • 3rd Place: Josephine D-L., Bedlam Prevails
 Photography - Middle School (grades 6-8)
  • 1st Place: Maddie H., Valentine
  • 2nd Place: Andrei T., Ice Spikes
  • 3rd Place: Viraj N., The Sun Always Shines Above the Clouds!
 Photography - High School (grades 9-12)
  • 1st Place: Henry S., Wounded
  • 2nd Place: Isabel C., Oxbow Bend and Mount Moran - Grand Teton National Park
  • 3rd Place: Leo D., Frolick
  • Honorable Mention: Mihir N.


 

2025 GALLERY SHOW AND OPENING RECEPTION

Recognize and celebrate our 2025 contestants by viewing their works at Kyo Gallery (111 S. Patrick St.) April 25 - June 1, 2025. For hours, visit the gallery website.

Opening reception and awards ceremony: Friday, April 25, 2025 6:30 - 8:30 PM. For more information, visit the event page here.

The Winter Creativity Contest is a partnership between the Kyo Gallery and the Alexandria Library.


 

ABOUT

The Teen Winter Creativity Contest is a self-expressive contest for writers, visual artists and photographers in grades 6-12. 

All three categories -- writing, photography and two-dimensional visual art -- are open-ended, meaning that, besides format, there are no writing or artistic limitations -  you are free to do what moves you!

You may submit something you’ve been working on or something new.

Contest details for 2026 will be announced in Fall 2025.

 

 

CATEGORIES & AWARDS

Categories for middle and high school:

  • Writing - Middle School (grades 6-8)
  • Writing - High School (grades 9-12)
  • 2D visual art - Middle School (grades 6-8)
  • 2D visual art - High School (grades 9-12)
  • Photography - Middle School (grades 6-8)
  • Photography - High School (grades 9-12)

Alexandria Library will distribute prizes in each category.

  • 1st Prize - $100
  • 2nd Prize - $50
  • 3rd Prize - $25

Each participant will receive a certificate of award, merit or participation.

 

 

RULES & GUIDELINES

1)All entries must be received by Alexandria Library by 11:59PM on Sunday, February 16, 2025.

2) All entries must be by students in middle (grades 6-8) or high school (grades 9-12) who have a mailing address in Northern Virginia or the greater metropolitan DC area.

3) All work submitted must be original work.

4) One entry per student is permitted in each category (writing, 2D visual art and photography).

5) Writing: submit one copy of your written work online by 11:59PM on February 16, 2025, using the form below. Written work cannot exceed 25 pages.

6) Visual 2D art and photography: submit one copy of your work (or digital image of your work if not originally in digital format) using the form below by 11:59PM on February 16, 2025. All work must be submitted online. Only 2D (two-dimensional) digital work or a digital image of the work is accepted. We cannot accept digital images of 3D art, or physical items.

7) All entrants will be notified of the contest results in March, 2025.

Have a question? Please contact Youth Services here.

 

 

RESOURCES

Not quite sure what to write about?  Need some extra help when it comes to creating art?  Check out these resources from the library:

Biography in Context
Biographical essays on the world's most influential people.

Fine Arts and Music
Extensive resource for serious students of drama, music, art history, and filmmaking.

Creative Writing
Books and eBooks

Art Books
Books and eBooks

 

Last updated: March 2025