First Lady Melania Trump announced a new exhibit honoring the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment and is asking students to submit artwork focusing on depicting events representing the women’s suffrage movement.
Melania on Monday tweeted the youth art project called “Building the Movement: America’s Youth Celebrate 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage,” an exhibit honoring the centennial anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave American women the right to vote. The exhibit will showcase students in grades 3 to 12 from all over the U.S. states submitted artwork to be included in the exhibit. One piece of artwork by a student from each of the 50 states and US territories will be selected and will appear alongside images of women’s suffrage parades, marches, and gatherings in this special White House exhibition that is scheduled to open in August.
The 19th Amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1878. The House passed it in May 1919 and it cleared the Senate two weeks later. The votes of three-fourths of the states are required to change the Constitution. The 19th Amendment was adopted on Aug. 18, 1920, after Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify it.
“As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, it’s important to include our children in the conversation so they can learn and understand the history behind the women’s suffrage movement,” the first lady said in a statement. “For decades, women leaders lobbied, marched, and protested for equality and their right to vote in the United States.”
Melania added the conservation for children to learn the history behind the women’s suffragette movement to include the need for peaceful protests, as well as conversations about equality.
“It is my hope that this project will both support and expand the important conversations taking place on equality and the impact of peaceful protests, while encouraging children to engage in the history behind this consequential movement in their own home states,” Melania said.
2/2 Children can submit their drawing of a Suffragist, Suffrage Symbol, or Suffrage Event by July 6th & the winners will have their drawings featured in an exhibit that will launch this August! #BeBest
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) June 15, 2020
Submit your drawing here: https://t.co/laj10KlFTm
This exhibit is presented by the Office of the Curator in partnership with the Office of the First Lady. Children are being asked to submit drawings by July 6 depicting individuals, objects and events representing the suffrage movement. Submission applications can be found HERE.
To be considered, artwork must meet the following requirements:
- Two-dimensional, created on an 8”x 8” piece of paper. To submit, parents and guardians are asked to upload an image of your child’s artwork which can be a simple snapshot taken with a camera or a cell phone. Winners will be asked to send their original artwork via mail at a later date.
- Include a statement (up to 300 characters) about the artwork and how it represents women’s suffrage.
- Be based on one of the following categories: Suffragists, Suffrage Symbols, or Suffrage Events.
- Suffragists: Portray a suffragist who inspires you. Many brave individuals dedicated themselves to fighting for women’s right to vote. Depict one of the well-known woman from the national movement or someone who did work in your state/territory.
- Suffrage Symbols: Create your own button, ribbon, or sign. Activists and supporters wore buttons with messages such as “Votes for Women” or carried signs with statements to President Wilson: “Mr. President: How Long Must Women Wait for Liberty?”
- Suffrage Events: Depict a historic march, protest, or other event related to the women’s suffrage movement. This can be a national happening or something from your state/territory.
Beth E. Heilman
June 16, 2020I am very proud to have Melania as a First Lady who is such a refined woman representing our Nation to the world!