Students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to enter the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center’s Ninth Annual Art & Writing Contest.  Deadline for entries is 3 p.m., Friday, April 20—no postmarks accepted. Winners will be notified by Friday, May 4.

The competition is dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust and is sponsored by Dr. Ira and Judy Gall in honor of their grandchildren.

There will be two divisions for both art and writing categories: Division 1: 6–8th grade; Division 2: 9–12th grade.

Topics may include: Acts of courage and heroism; resistance and rescue; the consequences of indifference; persecution, intolerance and injustice; preserving humanity in situations of great adversity; history and lessons of the Holocaust.

Each student may submit only one writing and one art entry. 


The Writing Contest: This contest welcomes poems, newspaper articles/stories, plays/dialogues or essays. Entries may not exceed 1,000 words, must be double-spaced and typed on one side of the paper. Please use paper clips – no staples. Three copies must be submitted. The judges will evaluate the entry on content, originality and quality of expression and accuracy.

The Art Competition: This includes sculptures, drawings, photographs, paintings, posters, a collage or five-minute videos or DVDs. All charcoal, chalk and pastels must be treated with fixatives. The work must represent the independent effort of the student. It may not exceed the dimensions of 20 inches by 20 inches. A sculpture entry may not exceed 18 inches by 18 inches by 18 inches. The work will be judged for creativity, excellence and content.

First, second and third place winners will be chosen in both Writing and Art Categories in each division.  Prizes are: First place – $300 and a certificate; Second place – $200 and a certificate; Third place – $100 and a certificate, and Honorable Mentions – $25 and a certificate.  

Entries may be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday or mailed to: St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, 12 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63146.

All entries remain the property of the museum and will not be returned. By participating, the museum has permission to publish winning entries in brochures, flyers, other museum publications and exhibitions. Photo reproductions of winning entries may also be made available to the news media. Winning entries will be displayed at the Holocaust Museum, on the community website, www.jewishinstlouis.org and throughout the state.  

For entry forms and complete information, visit www.hmlc.org or call 314-442-3714.