2023-2024 Theme: Hope

How do art and writing not only create historical context for human experiences, but also offer hope in the face of tragedy?

That's the difficulty in these times: ideals, dreams, and cherished hopes rise within us, only to meet the horrible truth and be shattered. It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet, I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.       

                                                                                                                                                                                 -  Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl

January 16, 2024 through March 15, 2024.

Entries may be Prose, Poetry or 2D Art.

Open to Grades 6-12.

 students may be enrolled in a public, private, faith-based, charter, or home-school setting.

Entrants must reside in a West or Southwest Michigan County.

Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Montcalm, 
Muskegon, newyago, Oceana, Ottawa, St. Joseph, or Van Buren county.

Along with their art or writing project, each student will submit an Artist or Author Statement: 

In the context of what you’ve learned about the Holocaust, how does your art or writing entry align with the theme?

Safe spaces for productive conversation and creative expression are integral to creating meaningful learning experiences.

The Henry Pestka Art & Poetry Contest is designed for students who are completing Michigan state education requirements for Holocaust and Genocide Education, enabling them the opportunity to process and reflect on the concepts they learned through writing or art.

Appropriate Content Policy: 

All entries must contain appropriate content. Content that is aimed to defame, marginalize, discriminate, demean, or infringe on the human dignity of others, living or deceased, is not permitted. Explicit language, violence, hate speech, or sexual content are not permitted in entries. Most related to this contest, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Xenophobia can be especially insidious forms of bigotry, presenting in subtle, but harmful ways. Whether intentional or unintentional, entries determined to be in violation of the Appropriate Content Policy will be disqualified and are not subject to appeal or review. 

The Pestka Family, in memory of their father and grandfather, Henry Pestka, a Holocaust survivor, is proud to bring Holocaust awareness and education to West Michigan students in grades 6-12 through an art and poetry contest. 

All too often, images of the Holocaust we remember are those created by the perpetrators. We see people humiliated, starved and beaten, dressed in rags or tawdry striped uniforms, and robbed of their humanity. If our study of the Holocaust ends there, we victimize these people a second time. When we engage with survivor testimonies or memoirs, we come to see those targeted by the Nazis as individuals, meeting them as people who gave and received love and for whom the memory of those they loved was a source of extraordinary strength. Love nourished their soul and sometimes inspired hope.

Though the Holocaust was a painfully tragic time in human history, there were everyday people who acted heroically, even when facing the most hopeless situations. Whether it was a Jewish prisoner who aided other victims, righteous gentiles who sheltered the Jews, or local people who spoke out, there were glimmers of hope in an otherwise terrible time.

Teaching about the Holocaust requires a high level of sensitivity and a keen awareness of the complexity of the subject matter. The West Michigan Holocaust Partnership has curated a collection of high-quality, interactive resources and lessons to support educators in creating an authentic and meaningful learning experience for students in meeting Michigan Holocaust and Genocide education standards.

Using "Teaching the Holocaust: A Guide for Michigan Educators", teachers can navigate to age-appropriate content that best aligns with their goals and needs in teaching the Holocaust. Along with prepared lessons, teachers can connect with classroom tools such as graphic organizers, audio glossaries, newspaper archives, and more. Teachers will also find resources to help prepare and support their students, and themselves, for such an important, but difficult subject. Additionally, a virtual field trip is also housed in the guide, and centered around accessibility. Students will follow a self-paced, interactive path through Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park to the Holocaust memorial sculpture, "Ways to Say Goodbye". 

The Henry Pestka Art & Poetry Contest compliments learning in Social studies, English Language Arts, Art, and cross-curricular studies. This year’s theme, Hope, explores how, despite facing unimaginable tragedies like the Holocaust, hope can be found in our common humanity.

These local resources will build a strong foundation for students and educators to begin to connect with West Michigan history, Holocaust education, Holocaust survivor stories, the West Michigan Holocaust Memorial, and the Henry Pestka Art & Poetry Contest.

"L'dor V'dor: An Eternal Tree"

WGVU Public Media 

Henry Pestka survived the horrors of Auschwitz. Pestka and the millions of Jews murdered during the Holocaust are now remembered with the dedication of the sculpture, Ways to Say Goodbye. There we talk with the sculptor and family unveiling West Michigan’s first public Holocaust memorial. L’dor V’dor explores art as education and its generational commitment to exposing atrocities against humanity. (26:46)

Grand Rapids Historical Artifacts

Grand Rapids Public Museum

Explore the extraordinary life of Ralph W. Hauenstein, a leader in our community, remembered for his role as a journalist, his military, and intelligence service, his dedication to the Catholic faith, his entrepreneurship, and his philanthropy in Grand Rapids. His remarkable life demonstrates just how much a great leader can accomplish and serves as an inspiration to the next generation of leaders. 

The West Michigan Holocaust Memorial Website

Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids, Grand Valley State University

Explore this collection of interactive maps, interviews, and photos of West Michigan Holocaust Survivors. Learn more about Henry Pestka, Joseph Stevens, Margit Zippert Sarne, Diet Eman, David Mandel, John Mandel, Leon Blum and more.

Learn more about the "Ways to Say Goodbye" Holocaust Memorial Sculpture located at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Holocaust Images and Art

Grand Rapids Art Museum

Judy Glickman Lauder's photographs have been exhibited worldwide. Traveling extensively throughout her life, she spent decades visiting Holocaust memorial sites, acting as a witness to her ancestor’s trauma. ​“We live in a dangerous world and our ability to destroy has only grown many fold since World War II. We cannot allow hatred and injustice, power and greed to gain a foothold – anywhere or towards anyone.”

There were 11 million victims of the Holocaust. 

• 6 million were Jewish people.
• 5 million were soldiers, activists, and civilians including people with disabilities, Roma people, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, LGBTQIA+ persons, and more.

One of the worst genocides in modern history, the Holocaust is also history's most extreme example of antisemitism, which is prejudice or hatred of Jews. Antisemitism remains a persistent issue in Michigan.

• Less than 1% of Michigan's total population identifies as Jewish, yet in 2022, Michigan ranked 9th in the United States for antisemitic incidents.
• In 2022, 85% of Americans reported believing at least one anti-Jewish trope, and 20% believe six or more tropes.  This is the highest level measured in decades.
• Jews account for about 2% of the U.S. population. Yet, in 2022, according to the FBI data, antisemitic hate crime incidents accounted for 9.6% of all hate crimes.
• From 2021 to 2022 alone, there was a 36% increase in specific incidents of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and assault in the United States, equating to the highest number on record since 1979.

Learning about the Holocaust can help students: 

• develop critical thinking and media literacy skills.
• understand the circumstances surrounding mass atrocities, human rights violations, genocides, and mass suffering.
• understand the roles that history, society, religion, politics and the economy can play in democratic values and human rights.
• unpack and analyze the consequences of decisions and actions (or inactions) related to prejudice, stereotyping, racism, xenophobia, and hate.

In 2016, Michigan passed Public Act 170.

• All students in Michigan must receive six hours of Holocaust and Genocide education.

• Finalists will be notified in early April 2024.
• The top 10 Finalists from each grade will be invited to attend and be recognized at the Henry Pestka Art & Poetry Contest Event in May of 2024.
• The top three finalists from each grade level will additionally qualify to receive a certificate and a cash prize: First Place $150; Second Place $100; and Third Place $50 - generously provided by The Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids, Henry Pestka Holocaust Memorial Endowment Fund.
• Finalists will be asked to arrange for their projects to be brought to a designated West Michigan Holocaust Partner location two weeks prior to the event to be curated and displayed in a gallery-style format.
• Please note that eligibility for prizes is based on attendance at the event, and all Finalists who attend will receive recognition and a gift.
• Prizes/gifts are not redeemable for cash, non-transferable, and non-substitutable, except at the sole discretion of The Partnership.

• No purchase necessary to enter or win.
• Entrants are highly encouraged to use the accompanying curriculum and resources as the foundation for their projects.
• Entrants must reside in a West and Southwest Michigan county and be enrolled in (or equivalent to)  6th – 12th grade during the 2023-2024 school year in a public, private, faith-based, charter, or home-school setting. Counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa, St. Joseph, and Van Buren.
• Entries must be individual projects, and only one entry per person will be accepted; all subsequent entries will be disqualified.
• Each entry must include a completed and legible official Contest Entry Form, with the required teacher/school information and parent/guardian permission, confirming that the entry is the student’s original work, and granting certain rights to entry materials.
• It is the responsibility of each parent, teacher and/or advisor to obtain and read these contest rules, requirements and guidelines.
• All submitted entries must be the entrants’ original work.
• Entries must meet privacy policy guidelines and contain appropriate content. Entries containing inappropriate content will be disqualified.
• Failure to meet rules and requirements may result in disqualification. The Partnership reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify ineligible entries; such entries will not be returned.
• Each entry must meet category guidelines and requirements. Click the "Contest Eligibility, Rules & Requirements" button for more information.

Artist and Author Statements (required for all entries)

In the context of what you’ve learned about the Holocaust, how does your art or writing entry align with the theme?

• Artist/Author statements may be uploaded as a PDF or Word document.
• Limit of 500 words.

Statements should include: 

• A brief summary of the project.
• A brief discussion of your process/choices used.
• An explanation of the connection of your project to the theme: "Hope: How do art and writing not only create historical context for human experiences, but also offer hope in the face of tragedy?"
• Appropriate spelling and grammar.

2D Art Entries                                                          

• Projects must be individual.
• In addition to meeting all Contest Eligibility Rules and Requirements,each entry must include a completed official Contest Entry Form, with the required signature of a parent/guardian, consenting to allowing their child to enter, confirming that the entry is original work, and granting certain rights to entry materials.
• An Artist’s Statement will be required as part of the online entry form.
• Renderings of another’s work will be disqualified. Please note that all images, whether computer, artist, or photo generated must be the creation of the student artist.
• Art submission entry forms should be accompanied by photos of the artwork photos (maximum of 5, jpeg or png).
• If selected as a finalist, students will be asked to deliver their project to Meijer Gardens about two weeks prior to the Celebration.
• All Art entries must be a relevant, clear expression within the category and theme. Entries that do not follow the criteria will be disqualified.

Formatting

• Regardless of delivery method (digital or hard copy), all entrants must complete the online submission form.
• Art entries must be legibly labeled with entrant’s name, grade, and project title on the back.
• Entries must be titled and include the student’s name and grade on a title page or at the top of the first page.
• Submissions must be two-dimensional and wall-fixable (shelf or hanging) only, no thicker than ¾”. Minimum size of 8" x 8" and maximum of 24" x 36".
• Artwork must not be matted or framed.
• Fixative spray must be applied to charcoal, pencil, pastel, and chalk art.
• Submissions can include photography, computer-generated images, mixed media, mosaics, and cartoons.
• Artists can use charcoal, pencil, pastel, chalk, watercolors, acrylics, or oils.
• Acknowledgement of sources – to protect copyright holders, proper citation of all sources is required. Permission for sources that are not public domain must be obtained in writing from the copyright holder and submitted with entry.

Poetry Entries                                                 

• Projects must be individual.
• In addition to meeting all Contest Eligibility Rules and Requirements,each entry must include a completed official Contest Entry Form, with the required signature of a parent/guardian, consenting to allowing their child to enter, confirming that the entry is original work, and granting certain rights to entry materials.
• An Author’s Statement will be required as part of the online entry form.
• All Poetry entries must be a relevant, clear expression within the category and theme.
• Writing submissions must adhere to the word/line count requirements. Entries that do not follow the criteria will be disqualified.

Formatting

• All entrants must complete the online submission form, and poetry entries must be uploaded as a PDF.
• Entries must be titled and include the student’s name and grade on a title page or at the top of the first page.
• Entries must be typed, on one side of the paper, and include page numbers.
• Entries must not include graphics, drawings, or other images. It must be clear that the entry is a poem, and not artwork.
• Poetry content should not include reference to student or school name.
• Entries may be no more than 30 lines.

Prose Entries

• Projects must be individual.
• In addition to meeting all Contest Eligibility Rules and Requirements,each entry must include a completed official Contest Entry Form, with the required signature of a parent/guardian, consenting to allowing their child to enter, confirming that the entry is original work, and granting certain rights to entry materials.
• An Author’s Statement will be required as part of the online entry form.
• All Prose entries must be a relevant, clear expression within the category and theme.
• Writing submissions must adhere to the word/line count requirements. Entries that do not follow the criteria will be disqualified.

Formatting

• All entrants must complete the online submission form, and prose entries must be uploaded as a PDF.
• Entries must be titled and include the student’s name and grade on a title page or at the top of the first page.
• Entries must be typed, on one side of the paper, and include page numbers.
• Entries must not include graphics, drawings, or other images. It must be clear that the entry is a writing entry, and not artwork.
• Prose content should not include reference to student or school name.
• Entries may be no more than 500 words, and may include fiction/story, argumentative, or expository writing.

Have questions? We’re happy to help!

To connect with a WGVU Education Team member, e-mail education@wgvu.org or call 616.331.6666.