Voices of the River Contest
Stories and Art Shaped by Water
Voices of the River invites K–8 students from across the French Broad River watershed to share their creativity through art and poetry inspired by our local waterways. Whether it’s a favorite river memory, a moment of change, or the role water plays in our communities, this contest celebrates the many ways young people see, feel, and connect with the river.
Theme: Rhythms of the River | How does water shape your community?
This year’s theme encourages students to think about movement, change, cycles, and connections – whether natural, cultural, or personal – and express how rivers influence the places and people around them.
For many students in our region, this theme may also connect to experiences of recovery and resilience following Hurricane Helene, which impacted our watershed just over a year ago. Reflections on flooding, change, healing, and rebuilding are welcome and encouraged.
Important Dates:
- Submission Deadline: April 3, 2026 by 5pm
- Gallery Exhibition: Saturday May 9, 2026 from 10-2
- All submissions will be displayed at the RiverLink office during the RAD Studio Stroll, winners are encouraged to come pick up their prizes.
Eligibility
- Students must live within the French Broad River watershed (Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, Mitchell, Transylvania ,and Yancey counties)
- Open to K–8 grade students
- Submissions will be judged in 3 age groups: K-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-8th.
- Submissions are welcome from:
- Individual students
- Entire classrooms (submitted by teachers)
- Afterschool programs, community centers, and art-focused nonprofits
Submission Categories
Students may submit work in one of the following categories:
Visual Art (2D or 3D)
- Accepted formats may include drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, mixed media, printmaking, or other visual media. No photography.
- Artwork must be original and created by the student
Poetry
- Original poems written by the student
- Any poetic style is welcome
Submission Guidelines
- Each student may submit one total entry (either visual art or poetry)
- Submissions must clearly reflect the 2026 theme, Rhythms of the River
- Inappropriate, plagiarized, or AI-generated content will not be accepted and all work must be the student’s original creation
Visual Art Guidelines
- Maximum size: 11 x 17 inches (not including mounting)
- 2D artwork should be securely mounted on construction paper or cardstock if submitted physically
- 3D artwork should be sturdy and able to be safely transported and displayed
- Do not use glitter, sand, loose natural materials, or other elements that may fall off during handling or digitization
- Artwork should be labeled with the student’s name, grade, and school, group, or parent info.
Poetry Guidelines
- Poems should be typed or neatly handwritten
- Maximum length: one page
- Poems should be labeled with the student’s name, grade, and school, group, or parent info.
How to submit
Digital Submissions
You can upload individual submissions or submissions from your entire class/group by clicking the link below. All uploaded files should be labeled as: StudentName_Grade_TitleOfWork
Please ensure that photos/scans of submissions are clear and at least 1000X1000 pixels. Accepted file types are PDF, PNG, JPG, and JPEG.
Physical Submissions
Submissions may be dropped off at the RiverLink office at 170 Lyman St Asheville, NC 28801 anytime from 9am-5pm the week of March 30th – April 3rd. If you’d like to arrange another time to drop off submissions you can send us an email at education@riverlink.org.
All physical submissions must have the submission form attached by paperclip or staple (no tape).
Contestants are responsible for picking up their submission after the gallery event by June 12, 2026. Failure to do so may result in the loss of their work. By entering the contest, participants give RiverLink permission to display, reproduce, and publish their submitted work.
Judging & Prizes
Submissions are reviewed by RiverLink staff and local artists and writers. Submitted artwork and poems will be showcased in a public gallery exhibition where winning students can pick up their prizes.
Thank you to these businesses who have generously donated prizes for the winning submissions!
Want to Help Support This Contest?
Each year this contest is made possible by some wonderful local businesses, artists, and writers. If you’re interested in sponsoring, donating prizes, or judging submissions for 2026 you can contact us at education@riverlink.org