The Prompt
Pulitzer Prize winning author Barbara Kingsolver finishes the thought, “And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.”
Hope is the active thing that built what we are doing right here. Under its roof, we invite human artists to reflect and make things with life-giving creativity. Hope is a place to ponder ideas of purpose, to examine our lives, and to imagine how our place in the world might even change the world.
It helps us see what we’re meant to see and resist the distortions and distractions that don’t belong inside our hope.
There is a be still quality to figuring out one’s hope. Living right in it is an exercise of craft and character. As we nurture, suffer and celebrate in hope, we come to find that we need it as much as it needs us to be truly alive.
As artists, how can we, at the very least figure out what we hope, and at most, live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof, and create?
PROMPT DEADLINE:
April 1st, 2025 7:00PM EST
We want the prompt to spark the imagination and not tell you what to do.
If you need direction, consider these steps:
1️⃣ Read (The prompt)
2️⃣ Reflect (Take a walk, ponder, imagine)
3️⃣ Respond (Engage. Create art that relates to the prompt)
The target audience, tone, and medium is up to you – We look forward to receiving your entry!
We host twice a year competitions with $30,000 USD in prize awards:
🥇 1st place $15,000
🥈 2nd place $8,000
🥉 3rd place $4,000
🏆 People's choice* $3,000
*The public will determine the people’s choice prize by electronic voting
Frequently asked question
Who can enter?
What kinds of work can I submit?
When is the deadline?
How many submissions can I submit?
Who owns the work submitted?
Should I credit AI and non-original work?
How should my work be submitted?
How will my work be judged?
Prompt Submission Form
Our competition is closed. Check back May 1st for the winners of Prompt #25.