2013 file photo: Jillian Brimigion of SCVi Charter School with Arts Commissioner John Dow.

The City of Santa Clarita, in partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley International Program, is inviting local teen artists and authors to submit artwork, poetry and essays for the 2015 Sister Cities International Young Artists and Young Authors Showcase.

The 2015 theme “Connecting Communities for Peace and Prosperity,” celebrates Sister Cities International’s mission of peace.  Local youth are encouraged to enter essays or poetry for the Young Authors Showcase or two-dimensional artwork for the Young Artists Showcase. Pieces should reflect each author or artist’s vision of peace and prosperity through the connection of national boundaries and transformed diplomatic relations.

Participants may enter one submission each in the categories of two-dimensional artwork, poetry or essay. One winner will be selected per category to win a $100 prize and be submitted to Sister Cities International in Washington D.C. to compete with other Sister City entries for the grand prize of $1,000.

Sisters Cities International is a non-profit organization created by President Eisenhower to foster partnerships among communities around the globe, and promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation – one individual, one community at a time.  Currently, the City of Santa Clarita has international Sister Cities in Tena, Ecuador and Sariaya, Philippines.

To qualify, contestants must be between the ages of 13 and 18 by May 1, 2015.   Interested teens may submit one original work per category, along with a completed entry form. Entry forms are available at scvipsantaclarita.org. Submissions are due on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 to Suite 120 at City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard.  The award ceremony and exhibit will take place on Thursday, April 23, 2015.

For more information on contest rules and entry specifications, please visit scvipsantaclarita.org or facebook.com/scvip, or contact Elena Galvez at (661) 255-4317 or Tess Simgen at (661) 250-3726 or email scvip@santa-clarita.com.