The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Podcast

For more than a century, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have inspired bold ideas in creative teens throughout the country. This episode grants you behind-the-scenes access directly from the source—the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to th...

Jurors look for creative works that exemplify the Awards’ core values: originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. It only makes sense that our young alumni would pursue their own business ideas and ventures! In this episode, we chat with Scholastic Awards alums who have navigated their own paths by starting their own organizations. We discuss the importance of connecting...

The National Student Poets Program is the nation’s highest honor for young poets (grades 10–11) creating original work. Annually, five students are selected for one year of service, each representing a different geographic region of the country. This episode includes all of the information you need to know about the Program—how to make your portfolio stand out, why this program changes lives, and...

If you want to dedicate your life to art, chances are you have asked yourself the following questions: Do I need an art degree to be an artist? How will I incorporate my love of art into a career someday? This episode is for you, visual storytellers. Episode two of The Scholastic Awards Podcast is all about how you can thrive in the art world after you’ve won your Scholastic Award. Join us as we c...

This episode is for you, aspiring English majors! If you are a teen writer considering a future in the book world, you have come to the right place. How on earth does the publishing process work? Is an English degree useful? Do I need a literary agent to submit to publishing houses?  That’s where episode one of The Scholastic Awards Podcast comes in—your destination for your burning publishing que...

In today’s episode, we discuss the magic of fusing art mediums, how to be vulnerable in your work, putting yourself out there creatively, and writing cross-genres.    Guests: ( 2:45 ): Gabrielle Civil won a Scholastic Award in 1990 for nonfiction writing before becoming a feminist performance artist and writer. Today, she teaches in the MFA program in Creative Writing and the BFA program in Critic...

Today’s episode has a little bit of everything for both writers and artists, no matter the stage of your creativity journey. We chat about fighting perfectionism and knowing when a project is complete, taking inspiration from your creative idols without compromising your individuality, and so much more. Guests: ( 3:00 ): Sarah Nerboso is a 1999 Scholastic Awards alumna and screenwriter, currently...

In today’s episode, we discuss the steps involved in the publishing process: querying literary agents, rejection, selling your work, and asking for your first blurbs. We also dive deeper into artist recognition, choosing a college major as an artist, and finding your confidence to call yourself an artist/writer. Guests: ( 3:57 ): Carolina Ixta received her first Gold Medal in Novel Writing in 2012...

In today’s episode, we discuss the courage it takes to show your art with the world, the challenges and joys of being a college student and an artist, how the Awards have impacted our guest’s career trajectories, and the process of judging teen artwork. Guests: ( 3:13 ): Screenwriter & filmmaker Sri Rao, best known for the Netflix series The Fame Game, discusses screenwriting, the importance o...