As we launch our “It Starts With the Arts” Campaign, the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable is thrilled to have hosted our first ever citywide visual art competition to recognize and celebrate the talent of New York City students.
All entries were inspired by the title “It Starts With the Arts”. We received many pieces of art from NYC public school students across all five boroughs in a variety of mediums: photography, sculpture, digital art, and more! Winning artists were selected by members of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable’s Advocacy Committee made up of educators, teaching artists, and cultural workers.
Winners for this competition have had their artwork printed on “It Starts With the Arts” campaign materials and will be featured in our social media toolkit (stay tuned for more!). Interested in having these postcards at your workplace or sharing with your community? Fill out this Google Form to request postcards and help us tell our city leaders to prioritize arts education in our city budget.
Scroll down to meet our four winners and two runners up for this “It Starts With the Arts” Student Art Competition and learn more about the creation and inspiration behind their pieces.
Winners
Art is Diversity
By Baya A., Manhattan, Age 14
My drawing was created to recognize the art and cultures of many different people. Through the power of art, many different ethnicities can come together to enjoy how much a single piece can express. Art is hope for equality. Art can reveal a person’s true self. Art is diversity.
Break Free and Share Your Art!
By Ryan B., Queens, Age 11
I have always loved clay. I can form whatever shape my imagination wants. When I was very little, I was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. Now I am in an ASD NEST program and my teacher lets me use clay freely, which I like very much. In this piece, a character is breaking free and getting to a good place where they can reach out, connect, and share their ART with those around them.
Out of the Darkness Into the World
By Phoebe L., Manhattan, Age 17
This art shows a girl who has been through a difficult time finally connecting with her imagination. The whale, a character from her dreams, guides her out of her sadness into a place where she can imagine and see the beauty of the world around her.
Untitled Artwork by Medina
By Medina A., Staten Island, Age 14
When I think of arts education, I think of a way to explore and find many interests. I started by just sketching concept art of many interests swirling around but then I thought it would make more sense to put them in my hair because it’s easy to stick things inside there.
Runners Up
Alice
By Lucy B., Brooklyn, Age 14
I created this piece while I was in an extracurricular portfolio class, and it started with my friend asking me to do a portrait of them. My teacher guided me towards using chalk pastels, which were a medium I had yet to try, and which I was nervous about working with. She helped me through it all, giving me advice, critique, and inspiration. She helped me establish my ideas, happily supplying me with krazy glue when I wanted to incorporate 3D elements. To me it represents how creating art is always a learning process, and having a good mentor to guide you through it is everything.
Reality Creates Imagination
By Daniela S., Brooklyn, Age 15
This artwork is about how art allows individuals to have creative freedom and express their feelings in different forms. A student is allowed to create their “dream land” on just a piece of paper. Art lets students dream of what they can do which leads them to feel good about themselves. With art education, students can have a safe space to build their imagination. They are not criticized, rather praised for their minds. Having arts education helps students be themselves.
