Attention high school students in Richland and Lexington counties! The Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina is thrilled to announce the “My Street, My Story: Celebrating History and Community through Youth Expression” arts contest.
This exciting event marks the first anniversary of the Intersection on Main Street: African American Life in Columbia exhibition at the Columbia Museum of Art.
A Chance to Engage with Columbia’s History
“My Street, My Story” allows students to engage with and reflect on Columbia’s history. We look forward to seeing how the Intersection exhibit inspires your creativity and helps preserve our city’s important legacy,” said Dr. Bobby Donaldson, executive director of the Center for Civil Rights History and Research.
Explore and Create
We invite you to submit your artistic creations in one of the following categories:
- Visual Art: Traditional, digital, and photography.
- Literary Works: Creative nonfiction and poetry.
About the Intersection on Main Street Exhibition
The Our Story Matters Gallery at the Columbia Museum of Art hosts the “Intersection on Main Street” exhibit that highlights a century of Columbia’s Black businesses from the 1870s, the midst of the Reconstruction era that followed the Civil War, to the 1970s, the post-civil rights era. A collaboration between the Center for Civil Rights History and Research, the Columbia Museum of Art, and Columbia SC 63, “Intersection on Main Street,” tells the powerful stories, entrepreneurial spirit, and community resilience that shaped the Washington Street Business District. Admission to this exhibit is free during regular museum hours. The gallery features images from Richard Samuel Roberts, a prominent photographer in Columbia, and images from Zion Baptist Church, Victory Savings Bank, The Big Apple, and many more businesses along the Washington Street corridor.
Prizes and Recognition
A distinguished panel will judge entries from the Columbia community:
Traditional Art:
- Professor Wendell Brown, Fiber artist and Associate Professor of Art at Benedict College
- Ija Monet Charles, Muralist and creator
- Dr. Minuette Floyd, Professor of Art Education at the University of South Carolina
Digital Art:
- Xavier Blake, Executive Director of OneColumbia
- Jahnna Blyden, Founder/lead designer of CREATE! Studios
- Victoria Rickards, Abstract artist
Photography:
- Victor Johnson, Lifestyle and documentary photographer
- Crush Rush, Freelance photojournalist and commercial photographer
- Jessica Hunt, Principal Photographer at Jessica Hunt Photography
Creative Nonfiction:
- Cynthia Boiter, Executive Director of The Jasper Project
- Tayler Simon, Writer and owner of Liberation is Lit bookstore
- Dr. Nancy Tolson, Author and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Department of African American Studies, University of South Carolina
Poetry:
- Dr. April Langley, Department Chair and Associate Professor of African American Studies, University of South Carolina
- Ray McManus, Writer-in-Residence at Columbia Museum of Art, poet, and Professor at the University of South Carolina (Sumter)
- Monifa Lemons, Poet, writer, and co-founder/director of The Watering Hole
Four (1st – 3rd Place and one Honorable Mention) winners will be chosen from each category, with results announced in December. Winners will be eligible to win up to $400 in cash prizes and a one-day admission pass to the Columbia Museum of Art. Winning traditional and digital visual art and photography submission will have their work publicly displayed. Literary art winners will also have their pieces published in the Spring 2025 issue of The Jasper Project literary magazine and on Jasper Online.
How to Enter
Submissions will be collected through an online platform from Tuesday, October 1 to Friday, November 1. For detailed submission guidelines and to enter, visit the Center for Civil Rights History and Research website: My Street, My Story Student Art Contest. Remember, all submissions must be original and should not use artificial intelligence software.
Get inspired, create, and celebrate Columbia’s vibrant heritage through art and literature!
Bio:
Courtney Thompson is the Communications Manager at the Center for Civil Rights History and Research. She specializes in integrated marketing communications techniques and media relations.
About The Center for Civil Rights History and Research
The University of South Carolina’s Center for Civil Rights History and Research was founded in November 2015 as an organization dedicated to chronicling South Carolina’s civil rights history. Its cornerstone collection is the congressional papers of James E. Clyburn, the state’s first African American congressman since 1897.
The Center’s mission is to amplify the stories of courage and sacrifice that brought the civil rights struggle to life. It is trifold: serving students, educators, researchers, and the community in identifying and using university collections and resources; informing curriculum for K-12 and higher education; and engaging the community in programming to foster advocacy and action This mission underscores the importance of understanding and learning from our civil rights history.
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