Words on Canvas Writing Competition

Within every work of art is a story, a life and a spark of inspiration.

Words on Canvas

Write yourself into the art museum!

Words on Canvas is an annual art writing competition at the Harn Museum of Art for University of Florida and Santa Fe College students.  We invite you to engage museumgoers with your poetry or prose inspired by art at the museum.  This year, students can choose from 18 artworks covering each of the Harn’s collecting areas on view throughout the museum, as well as our online collection through eMuseum.

Writers of winning entries will be awarded fun prizes and will have the opportunity to read their entry at Museum Night as part of the Broad & Broadside Poetry Festival. Their essay/poem will be printed in a brochure to be given to them and shared with audiences.

Students may submit until midnight, February 28, 2026
Be sure to read the competition rules carefully in the drop-down menu below.
Please submit creative writing pieces to wordsoncanvas@harn.ufl.edu and attach a separate document that removes all identifying information from the text of your entry. Please include the name of the artwork that inspired your submission. 

Winners will be announced by late March, and the reception, award presentation and readings will be celebrated at our Museum Nights on April 9, 2026.

See selected artworks for Words of Canvas Spring 2026*

*If all 18 works are not loading, be sure to refresh your browser in the collection’s page or click here for a PDF version of the list with the selected works.

 

  • Competition Rules
    1. No entries after the due date (February 28, 2026) will be accepted. 
    2. Prose entries must be 1,000 words or fewer. 
    3. Poetry entries need not be rhyming or metrical.  
    4. At the top of your submitted document, name the artwork or object that inspired your piece (e.g., title and artist name).  
    5. Blind Judging Notice: All submission documents will be judged anonymously. Please remove any personally identifying information (such as your name, email, or student ID) from your attached document for submission. 
    6. However, in the body of your email to wordsoncanvas@harn.ufl.edu, include your name, college, and class standing. Do not include this information in the attached document. 
    7. Words on Canvas reserves the right to disqualify submissions written with AI.

    Give your chosen work a close look: What story lies behind the image? What feelings does the piece awaken in you? What do you see that no one may have seen before? Let the art speak to you, and then let your ideas flow onto the page! Please remember to revise before submitting so that your writing shines.

    Through your writing, Words on Canvas will offer new ways of seeing and reading the Harn’s collections. We’re looking forward to your art-inspired words! For more information, contact wordsoncanvas@harn.ufl.edu.

  • Watch for next year's competition starting January 2027

    Writing Tips:

    Give your chosen work a close look: What story lies behind the image? What feelings does the piece awaken in you? What do you see that no one may have seen before? Let the art speak to you, and then let your ideas flow onto the page! Please remember to revise before submitting so that your writing shines.

    Through your writing, Words on Canvas will offer new ways of seeing and reading the Harn’s collections. We’re looking forward to your art-inspired words! For more information, contact wordsoncanvas@harn.ufl.edu.

     

  • Words on Canvas Publications

    2025 Words on Canvas
    2024 Words on Canvas
    2023 Words on Canvas
    2022 Words on Canvas
    2021 Words on Canvas
    2020 Words on Canvas
    2019 Words on Canvas
    2018 Words on Canvas
    2017 Words on Canvas
    2016 Words on Canvas
    2015 Words on Canvas
    2014 Words on Canvas

Have Questions?

For more information, contact wordsoncanvas@harn.ufl.edu.