Featured Event:
2023 Young Artists and Authors Showcase

The Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) is an annual competition that encourages youth worldwide to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork, literature, photography and music.

This year’s 2023 Theme is “Peace by Piece: Food Security in My Community.”

Students are asked to submit innovative, thoughtful and impactful creations that emphasize various aspects of food security, including the impact of climate change on food production and food consumption in their own communities.

Submission Categories include:

• Artists Showcase: Classic Medium
• Artists Showcase: Digital Medium
• Photographers Showcase
• Authors Showcase
• Poets Showcase
• Musicians Showcase

Artist Eligibility Requirements

Must be a resident of Hampton or a resident of one of Hampton’s International Sister Cities. Competition is open to students 13-18 years of age at the time of the April 1, 2023 local deadline. Youth in after school programs, public, private and home schools are encouraged to participate.

Submissions

Submissions must be original and are judged on creativity, composition, and theme interpretation. There is no fee to submit an electronic entry (no physical work).  The local winning submissions will be uploaded digitally and due to Sister Cities International May 1, 2023. For additional information and submission instructions, students interested in submitting can contact Sister Cities of Hampton at 757-727-6190 or sistercities@hampton.gov to ensure their eligibility for this competition.  

Awards

The winning Hampton entry will receive a local award of $200. That entry will then be submitted to the Sister Cities International (SCI) YAAS competition. Selected Grand Prize Winners in each category will win a $1,000 prize, while second place winners will win $250 and third place winners will be awarded $100. Winners' artwork will be displayed on the Sister Cities Website after the winners are announced during the Youth Leadership Summit.

A History of Winners

Last year Arianna Creasman was the Sister Cities of Hampton Artists/Authors Showcase winner.  Past winners included Jasmine Small, Diamond Sampson, Hannah Painter, Catherine Brignoni, Katlin Braxley, Zane Peters, Kianna Vallarde, Tessa Solle, and Joshua Williams. Joshua Williams and Kianna Vallarde were also selected as the National Grand Prize Winners of the Sister Cities International Young Artists and Authors Showcase, each receiving $1,000. Could you be the next winner?  

Scheduled Events for 2022-23

Annual Meeting
September 15, 2022
Hampton City Hall
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Executive Board Meeting
November 10, 2022
Hampton City Hall
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

South Africa Children's Book Drive
December 2022 Executive Board Meeting
January 12, 2023
Hampton City Hall
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

The Inaugural Sister Cities International Africa Cape Town Conference
February 20-24, 2023
Cape Town, South Africa

Executive Board Meeting
March 9, 2023
Hampton City Hall
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

City2City Event
March 2023
More Details to Come

Young Artist/Authors Contest
THEME: Peace by Piece:
Food Security in My Community
Deadline: April 1, 2023
Hampton City Schools

Give Local 757 Fundraiser
May 10, 2023
givelocal757.org
12:00 am – 11:59 pm