Over the Board Art & Poetry Contests

ROMP is hosting an art and a poetry contest in conjunction with our 2027 exhibit, Over the Board: Chess in Poetry.

DEADLINE for ENTRIES: Dec. 12, 2026

Poetry Contest

Write a poem celebrating the game of chess!

No Entry Fee, Cash Prizes in three categories:

Ages 8-12, Ages 13-17 and Ages 18 and over

1st = $100    2nd = $75    3rd = $50   

Evaluation Guidelines: Judges will be looking for these things in the entries:

1st: Poetic description of the subject that includes sensory imagery (touch, taste, smell, sight, sound), concrete language, and poetic techniques (alliteration, personification, metaphor, etc.)

2nd: Creative and original development of the subject. Add a unique view or insight about chess. Consider the metaphoric quality of the pieces and game. IMPORTANT: The title should also be original, not just the name of the subject. Consider picking as your title a phrase from the actual poem itself. Sometimes it’s best to choose a title after you have finished the poem.

3rd: Accuracy in development of the subject. While we want you to have originality in your development, make sure the description of the subject is accurate in some way—either visually or in spirit.

SUBMITTING YOUR POEM: You can submit your poem by email or through the postal mail. As always, in-person delivery to the museum is acceptable and encouraged.

ENTRY FORM: All entries must include either the entry form or all information from the entry form. If you submit through email, you can scan and send the entry form and your poem as attachments. Or you can type the poem into the body of an email, along with all of the information required from the entry form, including the statement of originality.

Make sure that your name or identifying information is nowhere on the poem itself.

The contest is open to anyone living in the United States.

DEADLINE: Poems can be submitted at any time but must be postmarked or hand-delivered by Dec. 12, 2026.

The winners will be announced through email in late December. Winners will be awarded their prizes at the opening event for the exhibit, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 20, 2027. You do not have to be present to win. Prize money will be mailed after the event if you do not attend.

NOTE: We do not have the resources to acknowledge receipt of poems. Keep a copy of your poem.

Chess Poem Entry FormDownload

Art Contest

Create a piece of art that depicts anything that celebrates the game of chess. If you use a software program to generate your artwork, the entire design must be your own creation.

Artwork Categories:                        $1,200 in Cash Prizes

  1. Painting/Drawing (oil, watercolor, pen, pencil, chalk, crayon, pastel, etc.)
  2. Sculpture (clay, ceramic, crochet, assemblage, 3-D mixed media, etc.)
  3. Photography

The size of your artwork is up to you and will not affect the judging. The artwork should not be so fragile that it can’t be handled. Frames for paintings, drawings, and photographs are encouraged but not required.

Age Prize Categories: 3-7, 8-12, 13-17 & 18 and up

Evaluation–Entries will be judged by local artists according to these criteria:

  1. Clear demonstration of artistic talent in the medium selected
  2. Creativity in the artistic techniques used and in the portrayal of the game of chess
  3. Surprising and unique interpretation of chess themes and pieces
  4. Sense of completion or finality in the artwork—a polished piece not an unfinished draft

Cash Prizes: One winner per category in each age group will be selected for a $100 prize.*

Deadline to Enter: Delivered in person by December 12, 2026, OR postmarked by Dec. 7, 2026.

All entries must include a COMPLETE entry form and be mailed or delivered in person to ROMP by the deadline. If you mail the entry and want it returned by mail, you must include a check or money order for the return postage.

Your name should appear somewhere on the artwork, either written on it or on a piece of paper attached to the artwork.

*Judges reserve the right to select more than one winner per category or to not award a winner in a category that receives few suitable entries.

NOTE: After judging, all entries might become a part of the exhibit, though the artwork will always be yours. You can have it returned or you can pick it up anytime after the opening event.

There is no entry fee for this contest. Please follow all guidelines to help us smoothly run the contest.

Art Chess Entry FormDownload

Questions? Email ROMPoetry@gmail.com