Each winter the Dayton Holocaust Resource Center sponsors two contests for students in grades 5 through 12. Click on the links below for complete details about the contests, including this year’s themes and deadlines. Contact rfrydman @ gmail.com with any further questions.
The 2023 Lydia May Writing and Max May Holocaust Art Contests have as their theme:
What valuable lessons have you learned from the Holocaust?
2023 is the 90th anniversary of the Nazi assumption of power – legally and ‘democratically’! – in Germany. For the first few years Jews and other minorities were targeted in relatively minor and annoying ways – in other words, bullying – in order to prepare the country for later and more deadly policies. This year we encourage students to think about how bullying can lead to far worse outcomes if we do not stand up to it when it starts.
The librarians at the ERC at Wright State will be happy to help: contact mandy.shannon@wright.edu
We know that the uncertainties of this school year may present obstacles to students, teachers and parents alike when it comes to creating art and writing for the contests. We encourage entries from students being schooled at home as well as from the traditional classroom.
Entries must be submitted by Monday, March 31, 2023. Click on the links below for full information.
Lydia May Memorial Holocaust Writing Contest
Click here to see a booklet of some past winning entries.
Max May Memorial Holocaust Art Contest
The Dayton Art Institute has a virtual tour of the 2021 art on exhibit there:
www.daytonartinstitute.org/exh
In 2002 we published a booklet containing some of the best contest entries from the past decade. Contact us if you would like copies, or view the entire booklet here. (large PDF file)
In 2003 and 2004, a selection of Art Contest entries were exhibited at the Webster Street Market, the Dayton Art Institute, and Sinclair Community College. Click here for the complete exhibit catalogue – thanks to Jill Wysong of the DAI.
Since 2004, selected Art Contest entries have been exhibited at the Dayton Art Institute. Some of these are pictured on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DaytonHRC