Contest Overview
Art is a powerful tool to share social messages and inspire change. Visual artists like Shepard Fairey, musicians like Beyonce and authors like Mira Jacob have used their creative voices to speak truth to power and raise awareness of the important issues facing us today. Pepco, the DC Public Library Foundation and DC Public Library invite you to find your power and use it to creatively address a topic that is important to you. What change would you like to see in the world? We are calling on youth between the ages of 13 - 19 to use their creative voice to make a difference.
"Sink" Illustration by Skye Jones, 2022 visual art winner
Congratulations to the 2024 Know Your Power Winners!
This year's Know Your Power submissions were thoughtful, well-crafted, and we were blown away by the pieces we received. Each one was not just expertly made, but also had a unique voice and fresh perspective on important civic issues. It's clear that teen voices have so much to say. The winners in Visual Art, Writing, and Film/Photography earned prizes to help them keep exploring their creativity and sharing their amazing ideas with the world.
What are the Contest Rules?
- This contest is open to participants between the ages of 13 and 19.
- You can submit multiple entries in multiple categories.
- Writing can be up to 1,500 words long and be in the format of a poem or short story.
- Photography entries may include 1 - 10 photos that make up a photo story.
- Video entries can be up to 6 minutes long.
- Music should be submitted as an .mp3 and be 1 - 3 minutes in length.
- Your submission must be original work.
