Young Artists and Authors Showcase
Each year, the Young Artists and Authors Showcase encourages youth from around the globe to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork and literature. All students must submit their work based on a designated theme that is announced each year. Selected artwork and essays/poems are showcased at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts for a week in the spring, beginning with a beautiful opening reception, to which the Mayor and members of City Council are invited. Winning artwork is then sent from Suffolk to Washington, D.C., where a panel of judges selects the final winners based on originality, composition, and theme interpretation.
This program is a great opportunity to reach out into the community and engage local English and art teachers, and reach a student audience that may not already be included in sister city programming. After the finalists for art and literature (at the national level) have been announced, they embark on a year-long tour hosted by local sister city programs on a monthly basis.
Each year, the Young Artists and Authors Showcase encourages youth from around the globe to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork and literature. All students must submit their work based on a designated theme that is announced each year. Selected artwork and essays/poems are showcased at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts for a week in the spring, beginning with a beautiful opening reception, to which the Mayor and members of City Council are invited. Winning artwork is then sent from Suffolk to Washington, D.C., where a panel of judges selects the final winners based on originality, composition, and theme interpretation.
This program is a great opportunity to reach out into the community and engage local English and art teachers, and reach a student audience that may not already be included in sister city programming. After the finalists for art and literature (at the national level) have been announced, they embark on a year-long tour hosted by local sister city programs on a monthly basis.
2026
The theme for 2026 is "Voices of Today, Vision of Tomorrow"
2026 will be a year of commemoration and celebration, as the United States turns 250 and Sister Cities International reaches its 70th anniversary.
In recognition of the foundings of both the USA and SCI, the theme for the Young Artists and Authors Showcase 2026 will be "Voices of Today, Vision of Tomorrow". It is hoped that student entries will highlight both legacy and tradition, as participants use their voices today to look and work toward a brighter, more unified future for the world. YAAS 2026 will once again feature two divisions for those aged 12-14 years old and 15-18 years old.
Categories will be announced in the coming weeks, but will include Classic Art (painting, drawing, mixed media), Digital Art, Photography, Poetry, Essay, and Music. Entry forms and digital submissions (digital art, photography, essay, poetry, music) for the local competition will be due on Wednesday, December 3. Classic Art pieces will be picked up on Wednesday, December 10. The Awards Ceremony and Opening Reception will be on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Support documents will be shared with teachers once we receive them from the national organization.
The theme for 2026 is "Voices of Today, Vision of Tomorrow"
2026 will be a year of commemoration and celebration, as the United States turns 250 and Sister Cities International reaches its 70th anniversary.
In recognition of the foundings of both the USA and SCI, the theme for the Young Artists and Authors Showcase 2026 will be "Voices of Today, Vision of Tomorrow". It is hoped that student entries will highlight both legacy and tradition, as participants use their voices today to look and work toward a brighter, more unified future for the world. YAAS 2026 will once again feature two divisions for those aged 12-14 years old and 15-18 years old.
Categories will be announced in the coming weeks, but will include Classic Art (painting, drawing, mixed media), Digital Art, Photography, Poetry, Essay, and Music. Entry forms and digital submissions (digital art, photography, essay, poetry, music) for the local competition will be due on Wednesday, December 3. Classic Art pieces will be picked up on Wednesday, December 10. The Awards Ceremony and Opening Reception will be on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Support documents will be shared with teachers once we receive them from the national organization.