ABC Writers Network

Reminder. Attention all elementary and middle school students: your HLF Creative Writing & Art Contest entries are due FRIDAY, May 9th!

To help raise our community’s awareness that historic preservation is good for the environment, Historic Lexington Foundation is sponsoring the Third Annual Creative Writing & Art Contest, open to elementary (grades K-5) and middle school (grades 6-8) students in Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County.

Two $50 awards, named in honor of former HLF Trustees Mary Erskine Gentry and Gillie Campbell Tutwiler, will be given per age group for entries that best interpret the contest theme, “So, You Want to Help Protect the Planet? Preserve an Old Building!”

Students may enter both the Creative Writing and Art categories, but may have only one submission in each category. Elementary and Middle School students entries will be judged separately. All submissions must be original student works. Creative Writing entries (essays, poetry, short stories, etc.) should be no more than one page (8.5″ x 11″) in length. Art entries may be in any media — such as drawing, painting, collage, or sculpture - and of any size. Each entry should be clearly labeled ON THE BACK with a 3″x5″ notecard with the following information: (1) Title of Work; (2) author/artist name, age, school, and grade; and (3) parent/guardian name, phone number, and address.

Students should submit their entries to the Lexington Art Gallery, 11 West Nelson Street in downtown Lexington, no later than 4:00 PM on Friday, May 9th. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, Noon to 4:00 PM.

Awards will be announced and entries will be displayed publicly at a special Preservation Month Reception sponsored by Historic Lexington Foundation at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 17th. The Awards Reception will be on Hopkins Green in downtown Lexington, with refreshments for all who attend.

Historic Lexington Foundation, Inc. will retain all student entries through the end of Summer 2008, for additional display in one or more public places throughout the year. HLF may also reproduce submissions in its publications. For additional information, please contact the Historic Lexington Foundation office by phone at 463-6832 or by email at hlf@rockbridge.net.