Q: What is the deadline for submissions to the Children’s International Arts Festival?
A: The online festival is ongoing. As of April 1, 2010, we don’t have any prizes to award for 2011, but that could change. We’re always accepting entries for publication in the Kids Color Me Bible Gospel of John and the Kids Talk About God syndicated newspaper column. Be sure to use the most recent set of questions for entries (as posted on our Festival Update page).
Q: What is the minimum age to participate?
A: The festival is open to children ages 5-12.
Q: Is the contest divided into age groups?
A: We do not formally divide the age groups, but will try to judge the entries on a sliding scale (i.e., expecting more from older children).
Q: I'm confused about the arts festival questions and drawings. This is something my son would like to do, but where do I go and what questions does he illustrate?
A: Start with www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org and click on the sign between the horses at the top. You'll then be on a page that looks like leather and denim. On the left will be the menu items for the festival. Click Festival Update. The current questions will be posted at the top. New questions will periodically become available, and you should always use the current question(s) for any entry. You may want to sign up for the Festival Update email to keep up with this.
Q: I am the mother of a home school group. We have 4 children that are in your age requirement. Do I sign them up individually or as a group?
A: Do the group registration, then make photocopies of the blank entry form and fill one out for each child. Children can enter multiple times if they wish, so be sure to include a separate entry form with EACH entry.
Q: My daughter has applied to be a part of the competition. We received an email from you and I think you might be under the impression that she is older, but she is only 8 years old. I wanted to make that clear and she doesn't have any contacts with other organizations to help with funding this program. She is still very interested in participating in the contest.
A: You may assume any emails we send are targeted at the parents, not the children. We make it clear on every sign-up form on our site that children under 13 years old must have their parents fill out the form for them. So we assume that it's the parent we're sending the emails to.
Q: Is there a maximum number of words for essays?
A: No. A child should write as much as they need to answer the question.
Q: Do you accept essays only, or are poems welcome?
A: Poems, essays, or any format may be used. It just needs to answer one of the festival questions and be accompanied by the child’s original, illustrative art.