ArtWords
Be inspired by the art in the galleries and have your writing published. ArtWords is a writing competition with prizes and a chance to gain a little fame and recognition.
Launched in 1998, ArtWords is an annual writing competition held in collaboration with the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English. It is open to undergraduate and graduate level University of Minnesota students. Participating students select an artwork on view from WAM’s permanent collection and develop an original short piece of prose or poetry in response. A jury comprised of Creative Writing faculty and WAM staff selects the winning entries. The selected authors are awarded prizes and the opportunity to present their work in the galleries and publish it online.
Enter the 2021 ArtWords contest >>
Read the 2020 ArtWords winners >>
The Tower is the undergraduate student literary and art magazine at the University of Minnesota. Each year, The Tower publishes the work of registered University of Minnesota students. It offers undergraduates the opportunity to work on all aspects of publishing a literary magazine, as well as the chance to be active in local literary communities. Winning submissions in the undergrad ArtWords competition have been published in The Tower.