District 214 residents can submit work to art, writing contest

Bev Ottaviano of Arlington Heights spent years at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum as an educational coordinator who mixed artistic efforts with sharing local history to her young visitors.

Yet, increasingly, Ottaviano began to channel her own creative juices. When the museum began hosting its Arlington Artists on Display, Ottaviano began entering her photographs and collages. She also regularly began contributing to an annual exhibit hosted by the North Shore Art League.

But only one local contest offered her the chance to submit her art - and her writing: the Arts Unlimited Community Art and Writing Contest hosted by the Daily Herald and Northwest Suburban High School District 214.

Ottaviano is a two-time first-place winner, both in poetry and prose. She won the art portion of the contest last year for her photo titled "Lyric ... Gateway."

In 2016, she also won the poetry division, with her poem "Murder of Crows."

As a result of placing among the top three in each contest, Ottaviano saw both her photo and her poem published in the Daily Herald.

"Having an opportunity to pursue both art and writing has been especially meaningful for me," Ottaviano says. "I only do a couple of contests, but I try to submit something each year."

Officials with District 214 and the Daily Herald would like to see more adults get creative. Once again, they are collaborating to host this year's contest, which coincides each year with the district's Arts Unlimited celebration.

Submissions in art, poetry and prose are being accepted now through March 1. Winners will be notified via email, by March 30; and cash prizes, as well as the chance to be published in the Daily Herald, will be at stake.

Individuals must live within the communities served by District 214: Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling.

All entries are judged blindly by professionals who know nothing about the artist or writer behind each piece.

Beyond getting published in the Daily Herald, winners also will be recognized at the Arts Unlimited reception on April 19 at Forest View Educational Center. The late afternoon gathering includes recognition for students and community members and also includes cultural performances by student groups.

"There's a mix of students, teachers, family and community members like myself at the reception," Ottaviano adds. "There's just a hum in the room that's happy and exciting.

"Community is the heart of the competition," she adds, "and I've certainly gained from having a small role in it."

How to enter the Arts Unlimited Community Art and Writing Contest

All entries must be sent electronically, and each email body must include entrant's name, title of piece, address and phone number. Those entering may submit only one entry per category. Email all entries to Herald.Contest@d214.org. Deadline for submissions is March 1.

<b>Submission guidelines</b>• All pieces submitted must be original works.

• Writing must be typed (prose should be double-spaced) in 12-point font.

• Prose should not exceed 1,500 words.

• Poems should not exceed 50 lines.

• Writing must be attached as a Word document.

• Artwork must be attached as a JPEG, minimum 300 dpi, and print-ready.

• The file should be named same as the title of the work.

• Prose should be carefully proofread and free of errors.

<b>Content guidelines</b>Please do not submit artwork or writing that is derogatory, demeaning, malicious, defamatory, abusive, or hateful; makes threats of any kind or that intimidates, harasses, or bullies, depicts graphic or gratuitous violence; is obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit.