Excelsior Springs Cultural Guild Reimagines Youth Art Contest with Expanded Creative Focus
Excelsior Springs, Mo. — After a several-year hiatus, the Excelsior Springs Cultural Guild is reimagining its annual art contest for young students, bringing it back with a broader creative scope and a renewed commitment to promoting the arts in the community. Now called “Arts from the Pumpkin Patch,” the event is open to students in grades K–8 and features not only visual art but also poetry and creative writing.
“It’s a way to encourage the arts, but do it kind of from the grassroots up, with your children,” said Jill Clark, vice president of the Cultural Guild and the organizer behind the event.
Clark, who became involved in the Guild after returning to Excelsior Springs and connecting with the local arts scene, says the contest is designed to help students build confidence and discover their creative voice. “We want to help kids feel better about themselves and discover who they are,” she explained. “The arts hit upon our emotions.” With categories now expanding beyond visual art into writing and poetry, the event provides students with an entry point into self-expression and community connection.
Entries opened July 11 and will be accepted through September 12, 2025. A public viewing of all student submissions will take place in the lobby of The Oaks Hotel on Saturday, September 20. Winners will be announced during a celebration on Sunday, September 21, with refreshments and family-friendly festivities.
The Cultural Guild previously hosted art contests for local youth but had not held one in recent years. Clark, who moved to the community and became involved through the Bohemian Sage Art Gallery and local writing groups, saw an opportunity to revive and expand the effort. “The idea’s not original,” she noted, “but when I came into town… one idea just kept leading to another.”
Open to students in Excelsior Springs and surrounding towns, including Kearney, Lawson, Richmond, Rayville, Orrick, Mosby, Prathersville, and Wood Heights, the contest is free to enter. Students may submit one entry in each of the following categories: visual art, creative writing, and poetry. All entries must be original and are encouraged to reflect seasonal themes tied to fall and Halloween, such as pumpkins, harvests, masks, changing leaves, costumes, or cooler weather.
Visual art entries can include painting, drawing, sculpture, woodworking, or mixed media. While specific mediums, such as acrylic, watercolor, or clay, are suggested, students are welcome to work with whatever materials they prefer, as long as the final piece is a manageable size for display.
Creative writing entries may be based on truth or fiction and span genres including fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, science fiction, memoir, journalism, and more. Short stories should be 1–4 pages and may be handwritten or typed. Poetry submissions are limited to 40 words and may be in any style or form.
To ensure fair judging, entries will be evaluated in four grade-level divisions: K–2, 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8. Three finalists in each category will be awarded $25 by the Cultural Guild. However, the contest intentionally avoids ranking placements. “We have no first, second, and third places,” Clark said. “People who qualify at the top… their placements are all the same.”
Another unique aspect of the contest is the personalized attention each participant will receive. “We’re going to write something about every single entry and send it back,” Clark explained. “It’s so easy for us to find something good to say about each piece. We want them to feel seen and encouraged to pursue the arts.”
Entry forms and detailed submission guidelines for all three categories, visual art, poetry, and creative writing, are now available for download. For questions or to request forms via email, parents, guardians, and educators can write to Jill Clark at jillclark2write@gmail.com.
As Clark put it, “This is the beginning. It’s not going to be perfect, but it’s the baby.” With community support and student participation, the Guild hopes Arts from the Pumpkin Patch will blossom into an annual celebration of creativity for years to come.
DOWNLOAD THE CREATIVE WRITING AND POETRY GUIDELINES AND ENTRY FORM BY CLICKING HERE.
DOWNLOAD THE VISUAL ART GUIDELINES AND ENTRY FORM BY CLICKING HERE.
If you appreciate the value our local journalism brings to the community, please consider making a recurring contribution to the Excelsior Citizen!
