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National Poetry Month is coming in April and what better way to participate in the celebration than by winning a contest for your art-inspired poetry? This week is your last chance to compete in the 2nd Annual New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) Ekphrastic Poetry Contest where contestants draw inspiration from works of art ranging from oil on canvas to rhinestone-encrusted shoes and express their reactions through writing. The NMDCA is accepting submissions now through Feb. 7.
The pre-selected works of art depict New Mexico-themed subject matter — photographs of life in early New Mexico statehood, women posing next to lowriders, dinosaurs and even outer space — through different mediums. The poetry they inspire will be judged anonymously by a panel of experts including New Mexico Poet Laureate Lauren Camp. One winner for each work of art will be selected in youth (6th to 12th graders only) and adult categories. Poems may be any length and use any poetic style, but they must respond to one of 15 works of art on display at nmculture.org/poetry.
Winners receive a pair of NMDCA CulturePasses which allow access to New Mexico’s historic sites and admission to the New Mexico Museum of Art, the New Mexico History Museum and more. Upload your poetry by visiting nmculture.org/poetry and clicking the “submit” button. Submissions will be accepted until the end of the day Friday, Feb. 7 and winners will be announced April 15.