The New York Public Library Opens Submissions for “We the Future: Teen Voices on America’s 250th”

The Library invites New York City teenagers to reflect on the American experience as part of a larger campaign commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The New York Public Library on Thursday launched its annual teen creative contest, a creative competition inviting teenagers from across New York City to submit writing and/or visual art for consideration in the Library’s Teen Voices, a magazine for and by young adults. In light of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Library is asking teens to share a story about life in America today—their individual story, the story of their family or community, or the story of a greater cause. 

All eligible entries to the “We the Future: Teen Voices on America’s 250th” contest will be judged by a committee of NYPL staff who will select 21 winning works based on their originality, adherence to the prompt, and literary and artistic merit. One grand prize winner will receive a $500 gift card and the 20 runners-up will receive a $250 gift card, and all will appear in a special summer edition of Teen Voices that will be available online and in NYPL branches ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend. The deadline for entries is March 8, 2026. 

“Libraries are where young people learn that their voices matter in public life,” said Brian Bannon, NYPL’s Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education, and Chief Librarian. “At a moment when we are reflecting on 250 years of American democracy, we want teens to see themselves not just as readers of history, but as authors of what comes next.”

This year’s contest is part of NYPL’s system-wide campaign honoring the 250th anniversary of the United Statesthat will include a rare public viewing of the Declaration of Independence, a major exhibition at our flagship Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street in Manhattan, family-friendly programming, an expansive book list, and a limited-edition library card. 

The Library’s copy of the Declaration of Independence, handwritten by Thomas Jefferson, will go on display at the Schwarzman Building in early July. The Library holds a fair copy of the original manuscript of the Declaration of Independence, which differs from the version that was ratified on July 4, 1776, and provides a unique lens into this watershed moment in history. The most notable difference is a lengthy condemnation of the slave trade, which was later removed—Jefferson claimed—to appease delegates from Georgia and South Carolina. 

The landmark document will appear alongside Declaring America: 1776 and Beyond, a sweeping exhibition that will fully open on June 13, 2026. Organized around three different galleries, Declaring America: 1776 and Beyondexplores New York as an intellectual and literal battleground in the riveting first months of the American Revolution, the central role of protest in American history, and contemporary artworks that grapple with enduring questions tied to the nation’s democratic ideals. Using hundreds of items from the Library’s renowned collections, the exhibition will include correspondence between Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, iconic ACT Up posters, work from noteworthy artists like Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, Tony de los Reyes, Kerry James Marshall, and much more.

In the meantime, visitors can see an original copy of the first draft of The Bill of Rights on display at The Polonsky Exhibition. 

“We the Future: Teen Voices on America’s 250th” is made possible by the generous support of Carnegie Corporation of New York. 

“Early civic experiences can help young people understand their role in our democracy,” said Ambika Kapur, a program director of Education at Carnegie Corporation of New York. “Carnegie is pleased to support The New York Public Library as it invites teenagers from every borough to reflect on America’s 250th anniversary through writing and visual art, encouraging them to draw from their own families, neighborhoods, and perspectives during this milestone year.”

These programs and initiatives are part of the Library’s overall commitment to our branch patrons and education programs, led by the Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education. Major support for educational programming is provided by Merryl H. and James S. Tisch.

About The New York Public Library

For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/give. 

About Carnegie Corporation of New York

Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace. Learn more at www.carnegie.org.