Visual Art
Paintings
Drawings
Collage
Digital design
Photography
Fostering Creativity is a public awareness campaign that seeks to empower those who have experienced foster care to share their perspective with the world. Youth will create art that will help raise awareness about foster care and adoption. The created artwork will be displayed at a Showcase Event on September 28th, 2023 that all youth artists will be invited to attend. Additionally, MARE will feature the submitted art as part of a public awareness campaign.
Five pieces of art will be selected for special feature at the showcase event. Artwork will be selected based on artistic quality and pieces that best raise awareness about adoption from foster care. These submissions will be turned into T-shirts or other apparel in collaboration with the artist. These items will be available for purchase in the MARE store and used to raise awareness in the community. The selected artists will receive a copy of the created apparel and a gift card. MARE will also work with these artists to create videos and photos about the artist and their work.
Youth currently or previously in foster care can participate. All participants must be under the age of 25. You can be adopted, reunified with your family of origin, currently in foster care, or have exited the foster care system into adulthood.
You do not need to be a world class artist! Anyone who wants to be creative and share their perspective with the world can submit art.
A piece of art or particular design that expresses your message. Submissions can be in visual media (paintings, drawing, collage, etc) or written media (poetry, essays, or stories).
Give your piece of art a name.
A one-paragraph description of who you are. Share about your personality, experience with foster care, and why you are participating in this project.
A one to two paragraph description about your art, its meaning, and your message to the community. Work with your family, your social worker or with us at MARE to help create this.
As someone currently or previously in foster care, your voice is the most important perspective in foster care and adoption. We need your help raising awareness in the community so that more people can understand your experience and help in any way they can. art speaks louder than words. We want to give you a platform to help create change for kids who have experienced foster care through the power of art.
Use one or more of the following prompts to think about what you want people to know about foster care and adoption. it might be helpful to talk about these questions with your family or social worker.
Why did you fill in the blanks the way you did? What does it mean to you? Were there any that felt particularly meaningful? Hopefully these prompts help you get your creative juices flowing.
We are accepting art pieces in any visual media or written form. Visual art should be no larger than 24"x24". Written contributions should be no longer than 1500 words. Please note that we are unable to accept multimedia pieces at this time (videos, recorded music, or performances).
All pieces should be intended to share your perspective as someone who has experienced foster care and raise awareness in the wider community about foster care and adoption.
Paintings
Drawings
Collage
Digital design
Photography
Essays
Stories
Poetry
It is important that we receive the original artwork you created. This will be displayed at the Showcase Event and used for the Fostering Creativity public awareness campaign. As a reminder, your submission is considered a donation to MARE and you will not receive your piece back after submission. To ensure your participation in the project, all submission must be delivered and in-hand with MARE by July 28th, 2023.
All participants must complete the submission form in tandem with submitting their artwork.
Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange
19 Needham Street
Suite 206
Newton Highlands, MA 02461
Please note that the office building is only open M-F during business hours. To arrange for live drop-off and ensure someone is present to receive your art, please contact team.communications@mareinc.org
Adoption social workers can coordinate with the MARE team to submit art, if it is not possible to mail or drop-off the art at the MARE office. Contact us at team.communications@mareinc.org
If you created your art on your computer, either through writing or digital design, or have a digital file like a photo to submit, then you can submit your artwork online. Use this submission form to upload your artwork.
Some participants may attend one of MARE’s art workshops this Summer. Artists will receive coaching and input from experienced artists to lead them in the creation process. Art will be created day-of and collected by MARE staff.