Every year Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson launches the Mayor’s Art Contest where Riverside high school students are encouraged to create a piece of art or a poem that celebrates Riverside!
Students are to look to Riverside’s past, its present or imagine its future. Anything that inspires them to depict our beautiful city in art or words will work!
2023 Deadline & Judging
- Artwork & poetry must be submitted by Friday, April 14, 2023, and winners will be announced by May 5, 2023. Artwork and poetry must be completely original and be accompanied by a signed submission form. A reception for the winners will be held on May 10, 2023 at City Hall.
- Pieces may be dropped off at any of the following locations:
- • RUSD (Grant Center) | 8AM - 4:30PM | c/o Alejandra Garcia (951)788-7135 #80304
- • Riverside City Hall | 8AM - 5PM | c/o Margie Haupt or Jessica Hernandez
- • Alvord Unified School District | c/o Dr. Michelle Pierce, Director III, Elementary School Leadership
- Digital art (artwork made by using computer software or other electronic devices) can be uploaded to: bit.ly/mayorsartcontest23.
- Your artwork must be accompanied by a signed entry form with title of work and short statement (see attached Entry Form)
For more information contact:
Mayor’s Office
Neyamavu Montgomery
(951) 826-5551
Guidelines for Art
Your artwork can be a drawing, painting, watercolor, pastel, collage, photograph, mixed-media work, digital or any other kind of 2-dimensional artwork, or a 3-dimensional piece, including sculpture, ceramics, mosaic or other 3-dimensional pieces, as long as they are ORIGINAL, and do not copy or utilize another’s artwork or concept:
• Artwork must be no larger than 24” X 24” (2-Dimensional) or 12” X 12” (3-Dimensional).
• Original pieces must be submitted by the deadline of April 14, 2022 at the three aforementioned drop-off locations or (if digital only) through bit.ly/mayorsartcontest23.
• Artwork must be related to the theme, and adherence to the theme is part of the judging.
• Your artwork must be accompanied by a signed entry form with title of work and short statement (see attached Entry Form).
• Be original—must not infringe upon anyone’s copyright.
• Artwork will become the property of the City of Riverside if it is chosen as a winning piece. The artist and teacher will be credited. All other work will be returned, and winning work will be returned after it is displayed for a period of time.
Guidelines for Poetry
Inlandia Institute and Arts Now invite City of Riverside high schoolers to enter their best poem for the Mayor’s Art and Poetry Contest.
How to submit:
• Include one poem inspired by the City of Riverside in a Word document (.doc or .docx.)
• Please be sure to include the author’s name, phone number, email address, grade level, and school.
• Poem should be formatted to fit on one side of one 8.5”x11” (standard size) piece of paper in Times New Roman 12 pt or equivalent.
• Along with the poem, please submit an artist statement of up to 50 words through the entry form: bit.ly/mayorsartcontest23
Prizes
One poem and one artwork will be selected by City of Riverside’s Mayor, Patricia Lock Dawson, and a panel of judges, as the Grand Prize Winner. A first-place winner may also be selected as well as multiple honorable mentions.
Grand Prize winners and their teachers will receive $100. First place winners and their teachers will receive $50. Additionally, select poems may be published on the website or in a related publication. Artwork may be reproduced or used on the Mayor’s web page or in publications. All prize winning work may be displayed for a period of up to one year.
All prize winners are invited to attend a special reception at City Hall with Mayor Lock Dawson. That event will take place on May 10th , Riverside City Hall from 5:00-6:00 PM. Invitations to this reception will also be emailed to the email address provided on the Entry Form.
This contest is sponsored by the City of Riverside in partnership with:
Arts Now Riverside and Inlandia Institute.
2022 Mayor’s Art Contest Winner
“Riverside Fiesta”, a photograph by Haylee Espino-Reiff
Teacher: Dacy Nottingham | Ramona High School