From the Page to the Stage: Judging the VA Creative Arts Competition
What makes a good story or poem? For me, it’s something that can move you emotionally and make you think. That’s why I was so honored to be asked by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) to judge the creative writing submissions for the VA Creative Arts Competition. For three years, SAACA has partnered with the Veterans Affairs to help find impartial judges for this inspiring event.
I’ve judged science fairs and elementary school poetry before, but this was a new experience for me. The submissions from the veterans were so exceptional that it made judging both a delight and a challenge. This year, the number of submissions was the biggest they’d ever had.
The Art of Impartial Judging
The SAACA staff had already read all the submissions and had their favorites, but they knew they needed an impartial judge. Since I didn’t know any of the authors, I was a perfect fit for the job. My task was to rate five areas on a scale from one to ten. I read each work multiple times, and even once out loud, to get the full effect. The quality was so high that I had to look for even the smallest details to make a decision. I was thrilled when the short story I rated highest turned out to be the one the staff also loved. It was a true tear-jerker!
Showcasing Creativity and Healing
The competition is a key part of the VA’s rehabilitation program, and it was a wonderful way to see the creative achievements of our veterans. The categories included everything from visual arts to music, dance, and creative writing. All of the poems submitted were non-rhyming and ranged across a wide variety of topics, including inspirational themes, military experiences, and more general subjects. The emotional depth in many of the poems and stories was truly moving.
I even got a glimpse into how the visual arts were judged and was impressed by the care taken to photograph and record every entry.
The works are judged by both artists and authors like me, but there is also a public vote. The top three winning entries move on to a national competition, and first-place winners are invited to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival.
After the competition, SAACA will showcase all of the first-place winners at their CATALYST Creative Collective at Tucson Mall. I can’t wait to go see who won in all the other categories!
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