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2025-2026 Contest Prompts

Choose any one of the following prompts that speaks to you
Curiosity
Gratitude
Compassion
Sadness
Integrity

How Do You Deal With A Friend With Different Values Than Yours?

What Might Happen If You Tell A Lie?

Grades to 4th - 6th
Grades to 7th - 9th
Grades to 10th - 12th
Art By: Iryna Vasylkiv

2023-24 Winner - Ethereal Jayce Alers

What is Bullying, and why does it hurt people?
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”

Till your words become repetitive, again and again hitting the same spot until it’s sore.

BLACK and BLUE
until I mute.

Your sentences makes me wonder…

Why AM I HERE? IS IT TOO LATE TO GO?

Your words are far worse than your actions because they break me from the inside out.

It’s when I go cold, I go numb, I get choked, I get stomped

I repeat and repeat those soul-crushing words.

Manifesting them into my life.

I’m worthless and dumb

I begin scratching my arms and pulling my hair.

I’m ugly and unlovable

My tears mirror what my ears hear

I’m a mistake, a hated distraction

My blood boils taking what my mind couldn’t handle

“Your gaining weight.” they laugh

I stop eating

“Your getting too skinny.” they point

I will never be enough.

“You deserve nothing!” they spat on my walking corpse.

A soul hidden within the deepest darkest shadow.

I deserve nothing not one thing at all

Not a smile or a hug

Not one thing at all.

Not a hi nor the smallest wave

Not one thing at all.

Not a blink nor a breathe

Not one thing at all.

Not a life left to live

Not one thing at all.

REPEAT IT TILL YOU BLEED IT THEN SAY IT ONCE MORE.

Not one thing at all. Not one thing at all. Not one thing at all. Not one thing at all.

You took what I couldn’t give.

You sculped me your own

Your words had hands that wrinkled my once smooth edges.

You took away my innocence.

My mind floods with self-hatred and yolk…

You fired me up till my pot began to crack.

You slammed me on concrete with absolutely no remorse.

YOUR WORDS ARE THE ACTIONS THAT KILLED ME.

I lied endless nights and ongoing rivers with a revenge plan that all ends with me.

I told myself you are the fault yet I am to blame.

But what do I do when the stars are no longer bright and the moon never says hi?

REPEAT IT TILL YOU BLEED IT THEN SAY IT ONCE MORE.

This life would probably be fine if those words were never heard.

How We Choose the Winners

Our judges celebrate imagination and effort

Our Judges Celebrate Imagination, Creativity and Authentic Voice

A group of art and education professionals carefully review and consider every entry, and use an objective rubric to assign points. The judges look for each child's voice, and how that voice is expressed through their words and art. Every submission tells a beautiful, unique story and the judges are continually impressed with the quality and creativity of the submissions to this Contest.

Guidelines

Accepted submissions can be in the form of an essay, poem, or artwork. All entries must relate directly to one of the above topics and follow these guidelines:

Essays
Must be TYPED on standard 8.5 X 11” paper.
Must be a minimum of 400 words and must not exceed 1,200 words

Poetry
Must be TYPED on standard 8.5 X 11” paper.
Must not exceed 2 pages.

Visual Art
Must be on paper or canvas no larger than 18 X 24”.

ALL ARTWORK must be accompanied by a short paragraph relating to the topic chosen.

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE ENTRANT’S ORIGINAL WORK, NOT PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED

Judging & Awards

All work will be evaluated based on content, creativity and originality.

Deadline March 9, 2026

Entries in each category of essays, poetry and artwork will be divided into 3 grade-based sub-categories:

• 4th–6th
• 7th–9th
• 10th–12th

There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards given in each category.

Award Ceremony


May 22, 2026



All Winners, along with 2 of guests, will be invited to participate in the Awards Ceremony where they may share their work and accept their prize.

Hartford Creative Contest

About the Contest

Students in grades 4–12 can take part in the Hartford Creative Contest by submitting an original essay, poem, or artwork inspired by one of this year’s prompts. Winners are celebrated and published in the annual anthology.

Thanks To Our Sponsors


Mothers United
Against Violence

Beckett Law
LLC

Step Up, Step
Out (SUSO)

The Mark Twain
House & Museum

Judging Criteria

The Judge use a rubric for choosing winners that assesses points for relationship to prompt, creativity, authenticity, originality, poetic technique (for poems), grammar, structure and form (essays), expression and impact.
Make a Difference Today

Support Our Creative Community

Your donation helps us continue inspiring young minds through art, writing, and imagination. Every contribution helps us bring more opportunities and joy to students in Hartford and beyond.

We apologize for any difficulties students may have experienced submitting their work. We had an unexpected website issue, which has now been resolved, but we are extending the deadline to March 10th to accommodate anyone who was unable to submit their work.

If you are still having trouble, please contact us at hartfordcreativecontest@gmail.com

and we will guide you through the submission process.

Thank you.