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2025 Fifth District Student Art Competition

Hosted by Alderman Rafael Feliciano-Roman, Alderman – 5th District, City of Waterbury

(Sponsored in part by the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center, the Silas Bronson Library and Surge Arts Collective.) 

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Each spring, the Fifth District proudly hosts a local student art competition to recognize, celebrate, and encourage the creative talent of young artists in our community. This competition highlights the voices, visions, and artistic excellence of students attending schools within Waterbury’s Fifth District.

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Alderman Rafael Feliciano-Roman welcomes participation from students who attend or reside in the Fifth District. Selected artwork will be honored with public exhibitions throughout the City of Waterbury, providing young artists with the opportunity to have their work displayed in prominent civic and cultural spaces.

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Awards & Exhibition Locations

  • First Place – Artwork will be displayed in Waterbury City Hall for one year

  • Second Place – Artwork will be displayed in the Alderman’s Home Office

  • Third Place – Artwork will be displayed at the Silas Bronson Library for one year

  • Fourth Place – Artwork will be displayed at the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center / Pa’lante Theater Company

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Participating Fifth District Schools

This competition is open to students from the following Waterbury schools:

  • Brass City Charter School

  • Maloney Magnet School

  • Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School

  • Waterbury Arts Magnet School

  • Washington School

Competition Categories

Artwork will be judged in three grade categories:

  • Grades 4-5

  • Grades 6–8

  • Grades 9–12

Artwork Guidelines

  • Maximum size: 26 inches by 26 inches

  • Maximum depth: 4 inches

  • Maximum weight: 15 pounds

Accepted media include:

  • Paintings (oil, acrylic, watercolor)

  • Drawings (pastel, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers – charcoal and pastel should be fixed)

  • Two-dimensional collages

  • Prints (lithographs, silkscreen, block prints)

  • Mixed media

  • Computer-generated art

  • Photography

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All artwork must be original in concept, design, and execution. Work copied from photographs, images, advertisements, or artwork created by others will not be accepted. Artwork must be in the original medium and not a scanned reproduction. A frame is not required for submission.

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Submission & Exhibition Information

Submission Period:
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – Friday, March 27, 2026

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Submission Deadline:
Friday, March 27, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.

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Exhibition Dates:
April 6, 2026 – May 1, 2026

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Submission & Exhibition Location:
Silas Bronson Library
267 Grand Street
Waterbury, CT 06702

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Important Notes

  • Each student may submit no more than TWO pieces of artwork

  • The following forms must be completed and submitted with artwork:

    • Student Release Form

    • Loan Receipt Form

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Host & Contacts

This competition and exhibition is hosted by Alderman Rafael Feliciano-Roman, Alderman – 5th District.

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For questions regarding submissions or participation, please contact:

  • Katiana Jarbath Smith, Surge Arts Initiative
    📧 surgeartsinitiative@gmail.com

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  • Lance Gaston, Silas Bronson Library
    📧 lgaston@waterburyct.org

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