Combining Voices
2007–2008 Combining Voices: Literary Competition Fact Sheet
Where:
The Morris Museum of Art at 1 Tenth Street on the Riverwalk in downtown Augusta, Georgia.
What:
Student authors can submit either a short story or poem inspired by one of the selected artworks in the collection of the Morris Museum of Art. The competition is open to students enrolled in grades 4 through 12. Students coming to the museum for the Combining Voices tour will be introduced to the artworks included in the competition.
Who:
Area students in grades 4 through 12 are invited to enter the contest. Participants are divided into three groups: grades 4–5; grades 6–8; and grades 9–12. Students will have five paintings to choose from. Judges will be local writers and university faculty.
When:
All entries must be submitted by February 29, 2008. Entries must be in the museum by 5:00 p.m. on that date. No exceptions!
How:
Each touring group will receive entry forms detailing how to enter the competition, or students may pick up forms at the security desk in the museum's front lobby. An entry form is also available online. The five paintings will be marked in the galleries. Students may access images of all the paintings on the museum web site. Also, students are encouraged to return to the museum on their own or with their families. Museum hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturday. Sundays the museum is open from noon to 5:00 p.m. and admission is free.
While it is not necessary that students go on a tour to enter the competition, it is highly desirable. The Combining Voices tour includes activities designed to encourage the use of both visual and verbal languages. For example, a docent will help students analyze a painting and build a work bank from their observations. They can use this word bank for their story or poem when they return to school. Students will see the designated artworks on the fifty minute-long tour and learn skills that help them respond to artworks on their own. Also, other Morris Museum student tours will enable students to see some, but not all, of the designated paintings. Tours may be booked online or by calling 706-724-7501 during regular business hours.
To assist teachers in preparing their students to enter the competition, members of the Authors Club of Augusta have prepared a tip sheet that will aid students in their writing. Also available is "How to Have an Artful Conversation," a guide for looking at art for non-art teachers.
Help us encourage and celebrate our young authors by urging them to participate in the competition. Though only a few will receive prizes, everyone wins in this contest. Every participant will learn more about how to look at art and will gain experience in creative writing.
Awards Ceremony:
The winners will be honored at an awards ceremony in the museum auditorium at 2:00 p.m. on April 20, 2008.
Competition Rules
What to Submit:
- Write an original and previously unpublished story of poem inspired by one of the Combining Voices selections at the Morris Museum of Art.
- Submit one entry only. This may be a prose entry of 1,000 words or less or a poetry entry that is from 10 to 50 lines.
How to Format Your Entry:
- Submit THREE TYPED, SINGLE-SPACED copies of your story of poem. Entries should be in either Courier or Times New Roman, 12 pt. font. PAPER CLIP the copies together.
- Fill in the entry form. STAPLE it to the back of one copy.
- Type on all the pages you submit:
- The title of your poem or story and
- the name of the work which inspired your entry.
Note: DO NOT type your name on any copy. To insure impartial judging, your name should appear on the entry form only.
- In addition, send your story or poem by e-mail, saved in a MS Word attachment, to Drew Brown, drew.brown@themorris.org for inclusion in the Combining Voices booklet.
When, Where, and How to Submit Your Entry
- WHEN: Entries must be received at the Morris Museum no later than 5:00 p.m., February 29, 2008.
- WHERE: Morris Museum of Art, 1 Tenth Street, 2nd Floor.
- MUSEUM HOURS: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday–Saturday; noon to 5:00 p.m., Sunday.
- MAILING ADDRESS: Combining Voices, Morris Museum of Art, 1 Tenth Street, Augusta, GA 30901.
Notification of Awards:
Winners will be notified by mail in April, 2008. An awards reception will be held on April 20, 2008.
Please Note:
- Failure to comply with these rules may disqualify your entry.
- Writers give permission to the Morris Museum of Art to publish entries. Manuscripts will not be returned.
- Questions? Call Drew Brown, Associate Curator, Education Services, 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 706-724-7501.
Judging
All entries will be read "blindly" in a preliminary round of judging by a panel of qualified readers. Judges will be local writers and university faculty.
Prizes
Grades 9–12
- 1st: $100.00 and a one-year Morris Museum of Art membership
- 2nd: $75.00 and a one-year Morris Museum of Art membership
- 3rd: $50.00 and a one-year Morris Museum of Art membership
Grades 6–8
- 1st: $75.00 and a one-year Morris Museum of Art membership
- 2nd: $50.00 and a one-year Morris Museum of Art membership
- 3rd: $25.00 and a one-year Morris Museum of Art membership
Grades 4–15
- 1st: $50.00 and a one-year Morris Museum of Art membership
- 2nd: $25.00 and a one-year Morris Museum of Art membership
- 3rd: $15.00 and a one-year Morris Museum of Art membership