Student art, poetry to be featured in 'A Day Without Violence' calendar

Betty Griffin Center is accepting art and poetry submissions from St. Johns County students for the 2026 “A Day Without Violence” calendar.

The project is open to all St. Johns County students in kindergarten through 12th grade, whether they attend public school, private school or are homeschooled. All entries are due by Friday, April 30.

Prizes are awarded for the winners, who are selected by a group of independent artists: first place: $50; second place: $25; 11 honorable mentions will be presented $10 each.

All 13 winning artists and 12 poets will have their work reproduced in the Betty Griffin Center “A Day Without Violence 2026 Calendar.” The agency prints more than 3,000 calendars for distribution throughout the county. Raintree Graphics was the print sponsor for the 2025 calendar.

“With the support of St. Johns County School teachers, we receive around 1,000 art and poetry entries from students each year during the contest,” said Betty Griffin Center CEO Kelly Franklin.

Winners will receive special recognition during a St. Johns County School Board meeting and have their artwork displayed at a local art gallery this October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Student artists and poets can drop off their submissions at the following locations:

• Betty Griffin Center Thrift Shoppe locations at 445 S.R. 13 North, St. Johns (corner of Race Track Road and S.R. 13) or 1961 A1A South, St. Augustine

• Bartram Trail Branch Library, 60 Davis Pond Blvd., Fruit Cove

• Hastings Branch Library, 6195 S. Main St., Hastings

• Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library,101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach

• Southeast Branch Library, 6670 U.S. 1 South, St. Augustine

• Anastasia Island Branch Library, 124 Sea Grove Main St., St. Augustine Beach

• In April only: Main Library, 1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine

To be eligible, artwork must be in color, able to be reproduced at 8-by-10 inches and suitable for framing (horizontal format only). All original 2D media is acceptable. The theme “A Day Without Violence” must be reflected in the art or words. An entry form must accompany each piece of art, which can be downloaded from the Betty Griffin Center website at https://bettygriffincenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025-Calendar-Contest-Application.rtf.

Any businesses or other donors interested in sponsoring the printing of the calendar should contact event coordinator Carole Sullivan at 904-808-8544, extension 201, or email caroles@bettygriffincenter.org.