Art contest for Cedar Rapids students open, up to $1,000 in scholarships awarded

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  — The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission is launching its 6th Annual Fair Housing Art Contest.

The theme of the 2021 competition is Home and Belonging: What Home Means to Me and artists should depict its meaning using an approved art form. (Poster for students in grades K-8 and Spoken Word or Written Poetry for students in grades 9-12)

The competition is open to all Cedar Rapids students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, including students who are not US citizens, virtual learners, and those who are homeschooled. Students will compete in four grade groups: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

Fair housing is everyone’s right to choose housing free from discrimination. The purpose of this competition is to engage students about fair housing by providing them the opportunity to creatively educate the Cedar Rapids community.

This is an opportunity for Cedar Rapids students to share what home and belonging means to them. Questions for students to consider: What does it mean to belong in your neighborhood? Why is it important for communities and neighborhoods to be welcoming and diverse? What does home mean to you?

This year the scholarship opportunity amount has increased for each category. Students will now compete for up to $1,000 towards post-secondary education in a College Savings Iowa 529 Plan.

These funds can be used for any qualified educational institution in the US or abroad, including 4-year colleges, community colleges, trade and vocational schools, graduate schools, and online degree programs. In each category, contest winners will be awarded $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place.

• There are two new categories for high school students: a Spoken Word category and a Written Poetry category. The Spoken Word is an original poem or prose to be performed as a monologue and the Written Poetry category may be written in any poetic style, depicting the theme. Submissions: Text of Spoken Word and Written Poetry entries should be submitted via email to civilrights@cedar-rapids.org. To be eligible, contestants must submit the Applicant Entry Form included in the information packet filled out by a parent/guardian with their entry.
• Grades K-8 Submissions: This year, we have three categories for entries, K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Students may enter by submitting a poster in standard poster board size, 18 x 24 inches, depicting the theme. Submissions: Due to COVID-19 precautions, K-8 poster entries will be picked up by Commission staff. Contestants must notify the Commission when their entry is completed. To be eligible, contestants must submit the Applicant Entry Form included in the information packet filled out by a parent/guardian with their entry.
• Key Dates: The contest deadline for submission is 4:00p.m., Thursday, April 1, 2021. Submissions will be judged during virtual events by a panel of professionals. Grades 9-12 will be judged on April 8 and grades K-8 will be judged on April 15. Winners will be announced during the virtual Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission meeting on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.