The Northern Michigan University student organization LIVE@NMU will kick off the 4th Annual LIVE Art & Word Contest as a way to help break the stigma surrounding mental health issues and suicide, engage individuals, encourage positive mental health and showcase the talents of both high school students and adults from across the Upper Peninsula.
The theme for this year's LIVE Art & Word Contest is LOVE (yourself), which coincides with the first letter of LIVE. The broader definition of LOVE (yourself) means "to accept who you are, because there is only one you. You have a unique set of abilities that only you possess. To love yourself also means to take care of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs."
There are two age categories in this year's LIVE Art & Word Contest: high school students and adults (18+). Individuals in both categories can submit visual art or written word entries through Feb. 28. Submissions may include poetry, paintings, photography, graphic arts, short story, quilting, or any other art form that addresses the theme of LOVE (yourself). There will be cash prizes again this year.
Each entry into the LIVE Art & Word Contest will be judged in three different ways. A group of individuals with a background in mental health and prevention will judge each entry on its ability to convey the theme of LOVE (yourself), which will count for 45% of the total score. A second group with backgrounds in the visual arts and written word will judge the entries on their artistic quality, counting for 45% of the total score. ,After each entry has been individually judged, they will be posted on social media to get the community's input, and to open the conversations around mental health and suicide. Social media scores will count for 10% of the total score for each entry.
"LIVE@NMU is thrilled to be facilitating the LIVE Art & Word Contest in its entirety this year,' said Amy Poirier, LIVE@NMU staff adviser. "The LIVE Art & Word Contest was the idea of a high school junior back in 2020–she is now a student at NMU. I am so proud of her ingenuity in making this contest happen and thinking outside of the box for ways to engage students across the U.P. The contest has grown every year and I can't wait to see what will happen this year, with its deeper ties in NMU."
For more information on the LIVE Art & Word Contest and to find the official rules and entry forms, go to https://nmu.edu/live-at-nmu/live-art-word-contest.
Media Contact: Amy Poirier, 906-227-2826 or ampoirie@nmu.edu