National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Extends 2017 Picture Freedom Art Contest Submission Deadline
MEDIA CONTACT:
Will Jones
(513) 333-7558
(513) 288-4834
wjones@nurfc.org
Jamie Glavic
(513) 333-7511
(513) 802-7355
jglavic@nurfc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CINCINNATI, OH (May 31, 2017) – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has extended the submission deadline for its Third Annual Picture Freedom Art Contest —a nationwide student art competition sponsored by Toyota—until Friday, June 16. Picture Freedom challenges students to create works of art capturing America’s struggle for inclusive freedom and equality. The contest began on April 10.
The Picture Freedom Art Contest was developed in 2015 by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to encourage students to draw connections from the Underground Railroad to the Civil Rights Movement to the modern day fight against slavery. The contest provides students with a unique opportunity to learn about America’s struggle for freedom and human rights in an engaging way. To become better acquainted with freedom’s heroes in person and online, students also have access to online resources and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center’s extensive collection of historical resources and exhibitions.
"We are excited that more students are getting involved and participating in this amazing program,” says Tara Riley, Manager of Educational Initiatives at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. "We want to give as many students as possible the opportunity to express and share their interpretation of freedom and equality through art."
Entries from students, grades 9-12, will be accepted through June 16, 2017. Judging of all entries will take place on June 19, 2017 and the winners will be announced on June 30, 2017. An awards ceremony recognizing the Picture Freedom finalists will take place at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on July 29, 2017. The winning artworks will be featured in a special exhibit on display beginning July 2017 on the museum’s second and third floor galleries. The 2017 Picture Freedom Art Contest is sponsored by Toyota.
The grand prize winner of the contest will receive a $3,500 scholarship. The second place winner will be awarded $2,000, and the third place winner is awarded $1,000. Hotel, flight and food accommodations are also included for the top three winners to visit Cincinnati for the opening of the Picture Freedom exhibition which will showcase their work. Picture Freedom finalists, places 4 – 12, will receive $100 each.
Visit freedomcenter.org/picturefreedom for more information and entry forms.
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, more than 1.3 million people have visited its permanent and changing exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.