The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center and the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC) are proud to partner each year on a contest that encourages middle and high school aged students to draw lessons from the Holocaust. This contest is generously sponsored by the The Mimi & Robert Habush Donor Advised Fund.
2026 Holocaust Writing & Art Contest Guidelines
Eligible Participants: 7-12th grade Wisconsin students
PROMPT: How can we move beyond statistics to honor the individual lives impacted by the Holocaust?
Create a written or artistic piece that brings to life the story of a person affected by the Holocaust, showing their humanity, dreams, and identity beyond the numbers.
DEADLINE: Friday, March 6, 2026 at 11:59 pm CST
*Only accepting applicants from Wisconsin students
Original writing or art entry may be one of the following:
Essay (not to exceed 3 pages, single-spaced – Works Cited pages do not count in the page count)
Poetry (single poem, not to exceed 3 pages, single-spaced)
Short Story (not to exceed 3 pages, single-spaced)
Film/Video (maximum length: 5 minutes)
Visual Art (painting, drawing, collage, digital art, etc.)
Sculpture
Comic Book
Podcast/Social Media (maximum length: 5 minutes)
All works must be submitted digitally. All entries are limited to a single object (sculpture entries may include up to four images from different angles). Students may only submit one total entry.
Artist’s Statement: All entries must include an artist’s statement, 50-200 words, in which you identify your inspiration for the piece and the takeaway you would like the audience to have. Entries WILL NOT be judged without this statement. Students should not include their name or any personal information in this statement.
Judging Criteria: Each entry will be judged with the following criteria in mind and using this scoring rubric:
· Offers a clear lesson from the Holocaust and connects it to present day
· Presents accurate historical facts
· Reflects artistry and skill
· Demonstrates originality and creative representation of the theme
· Entries that are not on topic will not be scored
Prizes: There will be 4 grand prize winners, two in the writing category and two in the art category. These four grand prize winners will be taken to Washington DC to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Teachers of the four grand prize winners will receive a $100 gift.
All winners will be featured on the website of the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center and in the Milwaukee Jewish Chronicle.
Instructions: Submit the writing or art via the submission form by Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:59 pm CST. Please make sure submissions do not contain any identifying information for the student, teacher, or school.
More Information: Contact Jennifer Koss, Education Coordinator at the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center at 414-963-2711 or jenniferk@milwaukeejewish.org.
Past Winning Submissions
Some of the materials for the Writing and Art contest have been adapted from Chapman University’s Holocaust Art and Writing Contest, presented by the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education, in partnership with The 1939 Society. We are grateful for their support and collaboration.