About This Scholarship
Underwritten by The Herb Block Foundation, The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon offers $2,000 scholarships for three students whose visual art offers commentary or criticism on current events, social events, or political topics.
What are editorial cartoons, and why should I create them?
An editorial cartoon is a drawing, an illustration, or a series of artworks that offer commentary or criticism on current events, social events, or political topics. Sample topics include, but are not limited to breaking news, politics, elections, civics, domestic affairs, foreign policy, economics, the U.S. Constitution, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Your voice can record history, contribute social commentary, and promote freedom of expression.
How do I apply?
Enter your work into any category in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. When selecting the category of your work, choose Editorial Cartoon. Editorial cartoons eligible for this award include single-panel drawings with captions, sequential comic art, illustrations, animations, or digitally created drawings with a political theme or message.
Deadlines vary by region and can be as early as December 1. Go to My Region to find your deadlines.
Getting Started on Your Cartoon
These resources can help you learn about current events and create your own art and writing about them.
- Explore activities from Teaching Tolerance on using editorial cartoons to teach across many social justice topics.
- Check out Drawing for Change: Analyzing and Making Political Cartoons from the New York Time’s Learning Network to learn about editorial cartoons and to guide you in making your own.
- Educators can use our presentation to teach editorial cartooning in the classroom.
About Our Partner
The Herb Block Foundation is committed to defending basic freedoms, combatting all forms of discrimination and prejudice, and improving the condition of the poor and underprivileged, in memory of the four-time Pulitzer–Prize winner and political cartoonist Herb Block. herbblockfoundation.org
