Attention ELA Educators:

2016-2017 Writing Through Art Literary Competition is a statewide competition sponsored by Booth Western Art Museum and is open to grades 9-12.  The purpose of the Writing Through Art Literary Competition is to encourage students to develop enthusiasm for and expertise in their writing using works of art from the Museum’s collection as inspiration, to provide a context to celebrate their writing successes, and to recognize student achievement in arts and academics.

Who can enter? The competition is open to students in grades 9 – 12 in Georgia, public or private schools, and students who are home-schooled in grades 9 – 12. 

Incentives:  Award certificates, recognition (press release sent to local paper in student’s city/county, winners photographed and posted on Booth Museum website), and cash prizes for students. Museum passes, gift cards, and recognition for teachers. Please note: this is a statewide competition!

Deadline for entries:  December 9, 2016

What to Write?  Students may enter short stories, essays, narrative poetry and/or Cowboy poetry. Entries must be the result of a required writing assignment based on selected works of art from Booth Museum’s collection. Each entry must be submitted to a teacher for a grade. Images and lesson plans are available by grade level on the Museum’s website,

http://boothmuseum.org/writing-through-art/ . Local schools may choose to visit the museum to see the selected art (entrance fees to the museum do apply).

http://boothmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2016-Writing-Through-Art-Literary-Competition-Contest-Rules.pdf - Contest Rules

http://boothmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/WTA-literary-competition-entry-form-2016-17_v3.pdf - Entry Form

How many entries can be submitted per school? The contest coordinator at each school or home-school group can submit up to twelve entries per genre to the Booth Museum. Example: 12 essays, 12 short stories, 12 narrative poems and 12 cowboy poems*

Classroom Support:  The Booth Museum is aware of a limited number of published authors and Cowboy Poets willing to visit your classroom and work with students. They can arrange for a Cowboy Poet to visit your classroom either in person  or through their virtual Zoom room [no special equipment needed- just a computer with a wired internet connection, webcam and microphone (built-in webcam is fine)]. Both options provide real-time interaction with the Cowboy Poet (the Zoom room is live, two-way audio and video).

For additional information, please contact  

Patty Petrey Dees

Director of Education

Booth Western Art Museum

Direct: 770.607.6372