Entries for Holocaust essay and art contests accepted

The Spokane Community Observance of the Holocaust is seeking entries for its annual essay and art contests. This year’s theme is “And the World Watched.”

The contest is open to middle school and high school students in the Inland Northwest.

For the essay contest, students are asked to choose one country that failed to come to the aid of the Jews during the Holocaust and discuss the social, economic, and political forces existing in the country at the time that contributed to its inaction. They are also asked to describe how that country could have acted differently in order to change the course of history. Essays should be 500 to 1,000 words and are due March 5.

For the art contest, students should design a two- or three-dimensional work that they feel might have motivated world leaders and their people to intervene in the Holocaust. Art entries are due March 19, and must include a statement of up to 100 words that describes the inspiration for the piece.

The winners will be honored at the Spokane Community Observance of the Holocaust on April 23 at Temple Beth Shalom. The first-place essay winners will read their pieces and the artwork will be displayed at the observance.

First, second and third places for both divisions in both contests will win scholarships, and the first-place winners will have their works published in The Spokesman-Review prior to the observance. Also, all of the artwork will be on display March 22-April 19 at Gonzaga University’s Hemmingson Center.

For more information about the contest, search for Never Again Spokane on Facebook or email neveragain-spokane@ comcast.net.