Last call for paw-some art, literary work
2022 Unleash the PAWsibilities literary contest winner Gia Goodwin with Stella Sicina at the Wareham Post Office. File photo
2022 Unleash the PAWsibilities literary contest winner Gia Goodwin with Stella Sicina at the Wareham Post Office. File photo
The deadline to submit work for the Unleash the PAWsibilities Area Youth Creative Contest is just around the corner on Monday, Aug. 10. According to organizer Sally Morrison, late entries will not be accepted.
The contest, which is hosted by the Dog Park Affiliation of Wareham and is on its eighth year, is accepting visual artwork and creative writing from children ages five to 16. This year's themes are "Celebrating creatures great and small in my backyard & beyond" and "What makes your favorite animal special?"
Contestants can enter one or both contests. Artwork may be any two-dimensional medium or mixed media, must not exceed 9 by 12 inches and can be. Written entries may include poems, essays, stories, letters, lyrics or other original works.
Judging starts shortly after the submission deadline and will be done by full-time or part-time professionals in the visual or literary arts, Morrison said.
Entries will be judged in three age groups: 5-8, 9-12 and 13-16 years old. Winners in each age group and category will receive trophies and one participant will earn the Best in Show Combo Award.
All competitors are entered into a prize pool raffle. The contest culminates with a family celebration and awards ceremony on Friday, Aug. 21 at the Gleason Family YMCA.
All contest entries will be displayed at the Wareham Post Office throughout September, before touring facilities for older adults in Wareham. This year is the third year the artwork will tour the facilities, Morrison said.
"That was such a big hit," Morrison said. "They loved seeing all the kids' artwork."
Morrison said that art display is about thankfulness.
"It's a way for us to give back to thank the community for supporting the build of the dog park," Morrison said.
While the show is being hosted by the dog park affiliation, art and literary work does not have to be about dogs. Morrison said entries can include any animal, even imaginary ones.
Artists are asked to attach registration information to the back of their submissions and can submit their artwork at the YMCA and Wareham Free Library during their regular operating hours. Submissions must be received at these sites by the time they close. The YMCA will close at 9 p.m. and the Library will close at 5 p.m. Monday.
