2017 YAAS Grand Prize Winner - Rodolfo Ledezma. Each year,
the Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) encourages youth from around the
globe to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original
artwork, literature, film, and photography.
Showcasing their imagination, creativity, and passion for
world peace, students interpret a designated annual theme into works of art and
literature. The work is sent from sister city member communities to Washington,
DC, where a panel of judges selects Grand Prize Winners and Finalists based on
originality, composition, and theme interpretation. Each Grand Prize Winner is
awarded $1,000.
This program is a great opportunity to reach out to 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, literature, film, and photography have been announced, their
works embark on a yearlong tour hosted by local sister city programs on a monthly
basis. This opportunity is available to any sister city program and can help
expand local youth programming.
In partnership with Cinequest, students are encouraged to
create a short film as their submission piece. Voted “Best Film Festival” by
USA Today Readers, Cinequest fuses creativity with technological innovation to
empower youth and emerging artists. In addition, students are now invited to share original
photography on Instagram as their submission piece.
2018 Theme: The Art of Diplomacy
Sister Cities International aims to promote peace through
mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation – one individual, one community
at a time. This year’s theme, “The Art of Diplomacy” highlights the importance
of citizen diplomacy and the innovative ways citizen diplomats achieve peace
through people-to-people interaction.
Students are encouraged to draw inspiration from their
experiences with sister cities, travel, exchange, international friendships,
and the many ways that people cultivate relationships across cultures.
Jacksonville Area Entries should be sent to
Brenda Frinks by April 15, 2018.