Crossroads Carnegie Art Center will be hosting a Poster & Literary Contest to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This contest is open to everyone in and around Baker County. The goal of the contest is for participants to analyze their own thoughts and feelings about America, what it means to them, and what they want it to be.

Prompt: “What America Means to Me.”

Poster Contest

The poster contest will have four age categories: (3-5), (6-9), (10-13), (14+)

Participants should use 8.5” x 11” OR 11” x 17” paper and can use any medium of their choice. Once completed, participants should sign the FRONT of their poster in the bottom-right corner. On the BACK of the poster should be the following: first/last name, phone number, age, and school (if applicable)

Each age group will have one winner and will receive a $250 cash prize. The posters should be submitted to Crossroads Carnegie Art Center by May 1^st, 2026, and will be judged by a committee within 2 weeks. Winners will be announced on First Friday, June 5^th. Then, we will invite local businesses to display the posters in their windows.

NO AI OR AI ASSISTED WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.  

Literary Contest

The literary contest will have four age categories: (6-9), (10-13), (14-16), (16+)

Participants can write an essay, poem, or work of fiction. There are no word count requirements, and work can be typed or handwritten. Handwritten work should be CLEARLY LEGIBLE. Literary work should be submitted with the participant's name, age, and school (if applicable). Work can be submitted digitally to info@crossroads-arts.org or dropped off at Crossroads Carnegie Art Center by May 1^st, 2026.

Work will be judged by a committee within 2 weeks, and each age group will have one winner and will receive a $250 cash prize. Winners will be announced on First Friday, June 5^th, where winners of the literary contest will be invited to read their pieces. They will then be displayed alongside posters in the windows of local businesses.

NO AI OR AI ASSISTED WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

Timeline

May 1 – All posters and materials are due to Crossroads. Work will be judged within 1-2 weeks.

June 5 – All winners announced at First Friday. Maps circulated by the end of the school year.

June 13 – Circulate all works to businesses after BHS Graduation windows are taken down.

July 13 – Posters/essays will be taken down and can be picked at Crossroads.