2008 Expressions of Courage® Art Contest Now Accepting Entries from People with Epilepsy
Art is an essential part of the human experience. It has the ability to relay our deepest feelings with mere flicks of a paintbrush, or through simple pencil strokes. For people with epilepsy, art can be a valuable way to communicate their innermost thoughts of living with this serious neurological condition.
Now in its sixth year, the Expressions of Courage® national art contest provides people with epilepsy the opportunity to showcase their talents and their perspectives of the world around them through art and share their experiences with others. In addition, the contest helps raise awareness of epilepsy and eliminate the stigma often associated with the condition – as epilepsy does not define who people are, it is simply a condition they live with.
ORTHO-McNEIL NEUROLOGICS®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation, invites people of all ages diagnosed with epilepsy to submit artwork for this year’s contest. The contest is open from March 29 through July 16, 2008. A panel of epilepsy advocates and art industry representatives will serve as contest judges and will announce the winning artwork in September. Winning entries will be selected based on creativity and the ability to demonstrate feelings of living with epilepsy through art.
Artwork may be created in ink, pencil, crayon, paint or a combination of these materials and must be on paper or board no larger than 8 ½ by 11 inches. Multiple submissions of artwork will be accepted. Send original artwork and a completed entry form to:
Expressions of Courage
c/o ORTHO-McNEIL NEUROLOGICS
389 Pittstown Road
Pittstown, NJ 08867
Winning artwork will be featured in the online art gallery, and either in 2009 calendars or coffee table books available in local Epilepsy Foundation offices and select physician offices nationwide. Also, a few winning pieces may be chosen by curators from the Society for the Arts in Healthcare for display in a traveling art exhibition comprised of nearly 30 winning entries from the past five contests. The exhibition aims to enhance public awareness of epilepsy by traveling to medical centers across the nation. The artwork is accompanied by the artists’ stories of how epilepsy has impacted their lives in various ways. Learn more about the exhibition and find an exhibition location near you by visiting the exhibition page.
To download Expressions of Courage entry forms and review the rules and regulations, click here, or call the Contest Help Line at 800-224-4935 with questions.
