TOWNSEND -- The VFW Auxiliary Post No. 6538 is sponsoring the 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest in conjunction with the VFW Auxiliary Department of Massachusetts and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Auxiliary.
Through the contest, high school students have the opportunity to use their artistic talents to express their patriotism while competing for cash at the local and state levels and funds to further their education at the national level.
The VFW Auxiliary to Townsend Post No. 6538 will award $50 to its first place winner, $30 to its second place finisher, and $20 to its third place finalist.
The Townsend Auxiliary's winning entry will be entered into the VFW Auxiliary Department of Massachusetts competition where $200 will be awarded to the first place winner and $100 will be given to the second place finisher.
The state's winning 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art entry will be entered into the national competition where scholarships of $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second place, $1,000 for third place, and $500 for fourth place will be awarded to the winners.
The first through third place winning National entries will be announced on VFW Auxiliary National social media pages and may be displayed at the VFW Auxiliary National Convention.
The contest is open to students in grades 9 through 12 who are enrolled in a public, private, or parochial school or are home-schooled. Although U.S. Citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. Foreign exchange students, students aged twenty or older, GED and adult education students are not eligible.
The three-dimensional art can be papier-mâché, pottery, stone, clay, metal, fabric, wood, etc. The three-dimensional entry should be no larger than 18 inches in any direction and cannot weigh more than 5 pounds.
Digital art, photography, weapons, art generated by a 3-D printer, and jewelry will not be accepted.
If the American flag is used in the entry, it must conform to the Federal Flag Code as far as colors, number of stars and stripes, and other pertinent rules of the code.
The art entry must have been done during the current school year. Each student may submit only one entry into this competition.
A complete typed explanation of the steps taken to create the 3-Dimensional art entry, an artist statement (using 250 words or less), and a completed 2024-2025 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest entry form bearing information about the artist, the title of the artwork, the source of the idea for the artwork, the media used, and the signatures of the student and his parent or guardian must be submitted with the entry. At least two photos of the completed art entry should also be submitted to document how it looked at submission.
Contest applications and information may be obtained from high school art teachers or from Betty Mae Tenney of the VFW Auxiliary to Townsend Post No. 6538.
Each entry will be judged on the originality of concept, presentation, and patriotism expressed; the content of how it relates to patriotism and clarity of ideas; the design technique; and the total impact of work.
All entries must be submitted to VFW Auxiliary to Townsend Post No. 6538 President Betty Mae Tenney by Monday, March 31. Anyone needing to make arrangements to submit a contest entry should contact Miss Tenney at 978-597-6495 or 978-665-4026.