Vinnie Ream Medal – Call for Submissions

2026-2027 Vinnie Ream Competition Call for Submissions

This prestigious competition honors Vinnie Ream, who was commissioned, at the age of 18, to sculpt a marble statue of President Abraham Lincoln — the first female artist to create a work of art for the U.S. government. She had already shown her artistic ability by sculpting Lincoln’s bust from life. The full-length statue of the president resides in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. An NLAPW member in all three classifications, this history-making artist is highly revered.

To honor Vinnie Ream’s legacy, this competition offers first-place winners in art, letters, and music an award of either $300 or a harp pendant in sterling silver with zirconia accents, to be given at the 2028 Biennial’s Vinnie Ream Banquet. One goal of the Vinnie Ream competition is to challenge participants to follow Ream’s sterling example of elevating one’s art work to the highest level.

General Guidelines

To enter the contest, you must be an active NLAPW member in good standing. Materials entered in previous Vinnie Ream competitions will not be accepted. Winners in the past two Vinnie Ream competitions should not enter this year’s competition; winners should wait for two successive competitions before entering again.

Independent, outside judges will select the first-place winner for each category: art, letters, and music. Additional recognition, such as honorable mentions, may be awarded. Each first-place winner (or a designated representative) must attend the Vinnie Ream Banquet to receive the award. The choice of the $300 or the pendant must be indicated on the application and cannot be changed.

The entry fee is $40 for each submission. All entry fees must be submitted to NLAPW via check, PayPal (see below), or credit card by phoning the National office (202-785-1997). You may submit to any category in which you are a qualified member.

Entries must have been created within the past 15 years. You retain all rights to your work.

Submit no AI-generated work; see and adhere to the NLAPW’s AI policy.

Entries accepted beginning September 30, 2026. Postmark deadline is March 30, 2027. Winners will be notified before the 2028 Biennial’s Vinnie Ream Banquet.

A short artist statement (not to exceed 250 words) must accompany each entry in response to this quotation from Vinnie Ream: In a letter to her mother, she wrote, “I feel that I am to have some special work in the world. I don’t know what it is, but I must be ready for it when it comes.” Artists, musicians, and writers, looking back over your creative paths, offer thoughts about the “special work” you have created and will create.

In order for an award to be given, there must be at least 12 submissions in art and letters, and five in music to ensure a competitive contest.

Guidelines for Art Category

Entries may be in any of the following categories:

  • Painting: all mediums, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, encaustic, mixed media
  • Drawing and graphics: all mediums
  • Photography
  • Printmaking (original prints only)
  • Pottery (hand-formed or wheel-thrown)
  • Sculpture
  • Digital art

Entry images must be a minimum of 1,200-1,500 pixels on the longest side. The image file size must be 1 MB or less. The file name should be the title of the piece only. The image should be of the artwork alone without mat or frame. Please submit one image of each 2-dimensional entry; three images (front, back, and side views) of all 3-dimensional entries. There are no size restrictions.

The artist statement required by the competition must accompany your submission. Please include complete contact information, art category, medium, and title of your piece with your submission. Indicate your choice of $300 or a pendant if you are selected as the winner. Your choice may not be changed.

Submit no AI-generated work; see and adhere to the NLAPW’s AI policy.

Email your entries to artchair@nlapw.org. Subject of your email should read: Art Submission Vinnie Ream.

Artwork chosen for the competition by the juror will be by jpeg selection. The first-place winner and honorable mentions will be used in a slide show during the Vinnie Ream Banquet and shown on the League’s website.

Before submitting, entry fee should be paid on via PayPal, by credit card by phoning the National office (202-785-1997), or by check made out to NLAPW and mailed to Bev Goldie/Darlene YeagerTorre, National Art Chairs, NLAPW, 1300 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-1901. Include your contact information and title of your piece with your submission.

Any questions, please contact the National art co-chairs at artchair@nlapw.org.

Guidelines for Letters Category

The letters competition will cover three specific areas: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. From these categories, one overall letters entry will be awarded first place. Fiction may include a short story (30 pages max.); a screen/stage play excerpt and synopsis (30 pages max.); chapter from a children’s, young adult, or adult novel, plus synopsis (30 pages max.); manuscript of a children’s story (30 pages max.); or a series (related or unrelated) of flash fiction (1,000 words each max.; indicate word count on each, 30 pages max.).

Nonfiction may include an article or an essay (30 pages max.); a chapter of a nonfiction book plus abstract (30 pages max.); a chapter of a memoir plus detailed outline (30 pages max.); or a series (related or unrelated) of flash memoir, nonfiction, or creative nonfiction (1,000 words each max.; indicate word count on each, 30 pages max).

Poetry may include a collection or a series of poems (30 pages max.).

Do not send books. No manuscripts will be returned.

Pages with illustrations or images will count toward the maximum allowed; it is recommended that these be omitted.

Submissions may be published or unpublished. Submit no AI-generated work; see and adhere to the NLAPW’s AI policy.

Submissions not adhering to the guidelines will not be considered.

Submissions by mail:

  • Send typed pages on 8.5-by-11 white paper, goodquality photocopies, or pdfs of books (30 pages max.).
  • Prose: double-spaced.
  • Poetry: single-spaced with double spacing between stanzas.
  • Title your manuscript. Do not include your name on the manuscript.
  • On a separate cover sheet, include your name, complete contact information (email, mailing address, phone, branch/ MAL), and the category and title of your work. Example: Fiction, Short Story, [Title]. On this cover sheet, indicate your choice of $300 or a pendant if you are selected as the winner. Your choice may not be changed.
  • Include required artist statement on a separate sheet, not on the cover sheet, without your name.

Electronic submissions: Email your submission to Diane Skelton at lettchair@nlapw.org with your name and “Vinnie Ream Submission” in the subject line. In the body of the email, provide the following information: name, complete contact information (email, mailing address, phone, branch/ MAL), and the category and title of your work. Example: Fiction, Short Story, [Title]. Also indicate your choice of $300 or pendant if you are selected as the winner. Your choice may not be changed.

Attach your submission in one document, artist statement first. Put no identifying information on the artist statement or on the submission itself. Your submission may be a doc or pdf. The file name should be “VR” plus your first and last initial (ex: VR_XX).

Preliminary judges for each of the three letters categories will select the best pieces in that category; finalist judge or judges will consider the finalists and choose the first place.

Before submitting, entry fee should be paid via PayPal, via credit card by phoning National office (202- 785-1997), or by check made out to NLAPW. Mailed entries should be sent in one envelope (including cover sheet, artist statement, and check if applicable) to Diane Skelton, National Letters Chair, NLAPW, 1300 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036-1901. Contact Skelton by email at lettchair@ nlapw.org with questions.

Guidelines for Music Category

All original musical compositions must be between 3 and 12 minutes. Entries may be for solo or small ensembles (up to five players). Any instrumentation is acceptable. Choreography can be for up to five dancers.

All entries will be considered for possible performances in 2027-28. Potential performance venues include the 2028 Biennial plus individual branch meetings throughout 2027- 28.

Submission formats (select the format appropriate for your composition):

  • For nontraditional composition, submit a lead sheet with melody, lyrics, and chord symbols, along with an mp3 or wav file of the work. If electronic music is synthesized but not notated, submit an mp3 or wav file. Include a short narrative describing the intent of the work.
  • For traditional composition, submit a legible score (electronic notation or hand-written score on manuscript paper) and an mp3 or wav file.
  • For choreography, send choreography notation, with a DVD recording of the choreography being performed.

Only the title of the composition must appear on all written and recorded materials. Do not include your name. DVDs will not be returned. On a separate cover sheet or a 3×5 index card, include your name, contact information, and the category and title of your work.

Be sure to include a one-page artist statement (not to exceed 250 words) per the general guidelines. Indicate your choice of $300 or a pendant if you are selected as the winner. Your choice may not be changed.

Submit no AI-generated work; see and adhere to the NLAPW’s AI policy.

Before submitting, entry fee should be paid via PayPal, by credit card by phoning the National office (202-785-1997), or by check made out to NLAPW.

Send entries to National Music Chair, NLAPW, Inc., 1300 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036-1901. Contact the chair by email at musichair@nlapw.org with any questions.