By Dirk Langeveld

NORWALK — As part of its planned programming for the United States semiquincentennial, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is introducing its first Young Artists’ Competition.

The competition, entitled “How I See America’s 250th,” will begin on Feb. 19th. Artwork submissions will be accepted through May 19th.

Students participating in the competition will offer their own creative interpretations of the American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, how they relate to the ideals of the nation’s founders, and how they envision the implementation and realization of these ideals today and in the future. Pieces can also focus on the role of Connecticut in the American Revolution, including its people, sites, and historical context.

How I See America’s 250th is open to all middle school and high school students in Connecticut, as well as elementary school students in grades 3-5. Students can submit artworks in mediums including watercolor, pen and ink, marker art, mixed media, and digital artwork (excluding AI-generated images).

Two artworks per grade will be featured at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum. Winners will also receive prizes including cash and museum memberships. A date for the awards ceremony and exhibition will be announced in March.

The competition is part of the museum’s education program, which focuses on history, art, architecture, technology, and economics during the Victorian era. The program includes in-class presentations by museum docents, tours of the mansion, and a summer internship program for students from local middle schools, high schools, and colleges.

“Generally, we focus on American history of the mid- to late 19th and early 20th centuries, but this year is unique, and as an affiliate to the Connecticut Commission America 250, LMMM will explore an earlier century, as it relates to the Declaration of Independence, the history of this house, and the American experience in mid- to late 18th century,” said Melania Smith, education coordinator at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum.

Smith said the museum intends to continue the competition if this year’s event gets a positive response from teachers, parents, and students, with appropriate themes chosen for future dates.

For more information on the competition, click here.

Expanded coverage of Fairfield County cultural events is made possible with support from the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts.