Betty Griffin Center (BGC) is accepting submissions from St. Johns County Students for the 2019 A Day Without Violence Art & Poetry Contest through the end of March.
This project is open to all St. Johns County students in kindergarten through 12th grade, whether they attend public school, private school or are home-schooled. The number of entries vary each year, depending on the number of students that participate. There were more than 1,200 entries in 2017.
“It takes all of us as a community to end domestic abuse and it can begin with just one day without violence,” said Betty Griffin Center CEO Joyce Mahr. “Students from all over St. Johns County can be part of this important effort by submitting original artwork or poetry to focus on this issue and depict their ideas about a day without violence as part of a countywide awareness campaign.”
Prizes will be awarded for the winners, who will be selected by a group of independent artists:
• 1st Place -- $100.00
• 2nd Place -- $50.00
• 11 honorable mentions will be presented $25.00 each
Winners will receive special recognition during a St. Johns County School Board Meeting, and have their artwork displayed at the Crisp-Ellert Art Museum at Flagler College throughout the month of October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
All 13 winning artists and 12 poets will have their art or poem reproduced in the Betty Griffin Center ‘A Day Without Violence 2019 Calendar.’ The agency prints more than 3,000 calendars for distribution throughout the county. The deadline for submission is March 31.
Drop-off locations include:
• Betty Griffin Center Thrift Shoppe locations at 445 SR 13 North, St. Johns (corner of Race Track Rd. and SR 13) or 1961 A1A South, St. Augustine.
• Bartram Trail Branch Library, 60 Davis Pond Blvd., Fruit Cove.
• Hastings Branch Library, 6195 S. Main St., Hastings.
• Main Library, 1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine.
• Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library,101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach.
• Southeast Branch Library, 6670 US 1 South, St. Augustine.
• Anastasia Island Branch Library,124 Sea Grove Main St., St. Augustine Beach.
To be eligible, artwork must be in color and able to be reproduced at 8 x 10 and suitable for framing (horizontal format only). All original 2D media is acceptable. The theme “A Day Without Violence” must be reflected in the art or words. An entry form must accompany each piece of art.
For more information, contact BGC event coordinator Kenlie Kubart at (904) 808-8544 or visit www.bettygriffinhouse.org/day-without-violence-calendar-contest.
About Betty Griffin Center
Founded in 1990 by concerned citizens and incorporated as the Safety Shelter of St. Johns County, the Betty Griffin Center is aimed at providing shelter for local victims of domestic violence and their children. In 1992, the nonprofit agency contracted with a local motel for space and started a 24-hour crisis line and court advocacy program. By 1994, the agency purchased and opened Betty Griffin House as permanent shelter. The shelter expanded in 1998 to meet local demand, and a sexual assault program was added the same year. Today, Betty Griffin Center shelters more than 560 victims of domestic and sexual abuse annually.
