Georgia Day Statewide Student Art Contest

In keeping with the Georgia History Festival (GHF) theme, “Governing Georgia Across Three Centuries,” this year’s Georgia Day Statewide Art Contest and Georgia Day Banner Competition challenge students to explore the topic “A Legacy of Leadership: Georgia’s Elected Officials.” Using creativity, students will illustrate how Georgia’s elected officials have demonstrated leadership qualities and executed their responsibility to govern. Through this year’s theme students can explore elected officials from throughout Georgia’s history, including those governing their hometowns.

“A Legacy of Leadership: Georgia’s Elected Officials” Topics to Explore:

Interpreting the annual theme is one of the most important parts of participating in the Georgia Day Banner Competition or Statewide Student Art Contest. Need inspiration? Check out one or more of the following suggested topics that can be explored within the theme, “A Legacy of Leadership: Georgia’s Elected Officials”:

Illustrate Georgia’s past or present elected officials who influenced Georgia’s political landscape:

• Branches of Government
  • Executive
  • Legislative
  • Judicial

• Levels of Government
  • Federal
  • State
  • Local

• Elected Officials Throughout Georgia’s History
  • Jimmy Carter
  • John Lewis
  • Viola Ross Napier
  • Jefferson Long
  • John Ross
  • More elected officials can be found in “A Legacy of Leadership: Georgia’s Elected Officials.”

What are some positive traits demonstrated by an elected official in Georgia?

What are the roles of the different branches of government?

How did changes in voting laws through the years impact the political landscape of Georgia?

The art contest is now open! Click here to submit your artwork.

Guidelines for Creation:

• The art contest is open to any individual student attending public, private, parochial, online, or home school in Georgia in grades K-12.
• Entry is free and limited to one submission per student.
• Art entries should be original, student-made work that does not infringe on copyrighted material.
• The Statewide Student Art Contest will accept online submissions representing:
  • Drawings
  • Paintings
  • Digital works
  • Fine art photography
  • Mixed media
  • Sculpture

Guidelines for Submission:

• Art must be submitted
  • as a high-resolution image or PDF document
    • Artwork images must be in .jpg or .png format.
  • with up to three images per entry
    • If multiple photos are submitted, consider choosing close-ups or different angles to show dimension and/or scale of the piece.
  • with an additional photo of the artist with their art
    • This image is considered separate from the image entries.
  • By submitting images to GHS, the submitter transfers the right to use or reproduce images of banners and other works of art, in part or in full, including images with people, in GHS publications, and on all GHS social media platforms.

• Deadline for submission is January 22, 2024.

Guidelines for Judging:

• Art will be judged on the criteria found in the Art Contest Scoring Rubric.
• There are four categories of winners within the elementary, middle, and high school divisions:
  • Overall Winner - Highest Overall Score
  • Most Original - Most Unique Approach to Theme
  • Best Use of Theme - Shows Greatest Understanding of Theme
  • Most Creative – Most Unique Artistic Medium or Technique
• Art entries will be judged by GHS staff members and invited community representatives.

Winners of each contest will be announced on the GHS website and social media accounts on Georgia Day, Monday, February 12, 2024. Winners will be featured in the 2024 Spring/Summer issue of Georgia History Today! Overall Winners in elementary, middle, and high school divisions will receive a free art kit!

“A Legacy of Leadership,” to support student participation in the Georgia Day Statewide Student Art Contest a digital publication aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence for elementary and middle grades has been created.

A Legacy of Leadership Primary Source Set Complementing the digital resource “A Legacy of Leadership,” this curated collection of historical documents, political cartoons, posters, and images encourages an examination of some of Georgia’s most important leaders.

"A Legacy of Leadership": Georgia Day Theme Webinar

• Parents and educators are encouraged to utilize this resource to support K-12 student participation in annual Georgia Day events that take place each February, including the Georgia Day Statewide Student Art Contest.
• Date: November 14, 2023
• Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Online
• This program is free to attend but requires registration.

For questions about the Georgia Day Statewide Student Art Contest themes, rules, or resources please contact GHS Membership and Outreach Coordinator, Kristin Singleton at ksingleton@georgiahistory.com.