Avon Then & Now is a community art challenge sponsored by the Avon Free Public Library’s Board of Directors and part of Avon’s America 250 celebration of the semi-quincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Residents are tasked with creating their own original art piece based on a topic from the Farmington Valley’s rich history. There are five categories of submission, with prizes! Students in grades K-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-12, and adults are all encouraged to enter.
All media types are welcome; paintings, drawings, collages, prints, 3D models, and photographs. Illustrations can take the form of a single image, a poster, a vignette or map. Photography should be no smaller than 8” X 10”. Finished work should be no longer than 18” on one side and ready to hang.
For inspiration, entrants are encourage to explore the photos from the Avon Library’s local history collection that have been digitized and uploaded to the Connecticut Digital Archive (CTDA). Over 40,000 items have been digitized for this online collection and potential topics include Avon’s founding families, native American settlements, The Brian D. Jones site and artifacts, farms, pastures and parks, structures and monuments, or landscape scenes and views.
All entries must be received by March 30, 2026 and accompanied by a short paragraph describing the subject of your artwork. The paragraph should include names, dates, locations, and any significant or interesting details about the subject. Entrants may visit the Avon Library Reference Desk for help identifying or researching your topic. For all contest rules and an online entry form, visit https://www.avonctlibrary.info/avon-then-now/