KENNEBUNK – The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing outstanding visual art and writing created by teenagers to a national audience, has launched a nationwide call for submissions to the 2009 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The awards offer early recognition for creative teenagers and art and writing scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors.

Seniors who win a national A&W Award are eligible for scholarships – $500 to full tuition – at more than 50 colleges, universities and art institutes across the country.

Each year, $3.25 million in art and writing scholarships are made available to select national award recipients, including 12 high school seniors who are honored with the National Portfolio Gold Award, and a $10,000 cash award.

The annual Scholastic Art Awards competition began locally on Oct. 1 as students from all areas of Maine, grades seven to 12, register online to submit works of art in an array of categories, including sculpture, fashion design, painting, jewelry, drawing, animation, ceramic and glass, analog and digital photography, computer art, printmaking, video and film.

The entries are submitted to Heartwood College of Art in Kennebunk, the regional affiliate for the state. A panel of local jurors comprised of artists, educators and arts professionals evaluates the pieces.

If a student receives a top award from the Maine Art Awards, then he or she moves on to the national level.

Each year, the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers in New York City receives thousands of works of art and writing, submitted by regional affiliate programs nationwide.

Heartwood College is a nonprofit organization and one of two colleges in Maine solely focused on the visual arts.

It offers two-year associate and four-year bachelor of fine arts degree programs at an affordable tuition.

For more information, visit www.heartwoodcollegeofart.org.

To learn more about submission guidelines and deadlines and how to submit work, visit www.registration.artandwriting.org or go to www.heartwoodcollegeofart.org and click on the Scholastic Art Awards 2009 link.