WiseTalent

قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَۚ قَلِيلٗا مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ

Say: “It is He Who has created you and made for you the faculties of hearing, seeing, and understanding: little thanks do you give.”
— Surah Al-Mulk, Ayat 23

Introduction

We are excited to welcome all WISE member schools to the first international WISE Poetry and Visual Arts Competition. This year’s theme is centered on introducing the legacy of Imam Hussain (AS) to the world, giving students a platform to creatively reflect on his life, stand for justice, and his unwavering values of courage and truth.

The goal of the competition is to provide students with a God-centric, innovative platform to develop and showcase their artistic and literary talents while promoting collaboration across WISE schools. We encourage all WISE member schools to participate and help students honor the timeless legacy of Imam Hussain (AS) through their creativity.

Competition Details

Students will compete in two categories:

  • Visual Arts
  • Poetry

Eligibility

The competition is open to students enrolled in WISE member schools in the following age categories:

  • 9-13 years
  • 14-18 years

Theme

All entries must focus on the theme of introducing Imam Hussain (AS) to non-Muslims globally. Submissions should present Imam Hussain (AS) from a God-centric perspective, highlighting his role as a divinely appointed religious leader, not merely as a historical figure.

Submission Process

WISE member schools will hold internal competitions to select the top two finalists from each category and age group. All participants must be between 9-18 years old as of September 1st, 2024. Submissions should be made in the form of video recordings (for poetry) or high-quality photographs (for visual arts).

Selected finalists will advance to the international final, where their works will be showcased at the 2026 WISE Summit.

Judging Criteria and Rubrics

The submissions will be judged based on the following criteria:

Visual Arts Competition:

  • Adherence to Islamic Art Principles
  • Creativity and Originality
  • Skill and Technique
  • Theme Representation
  • Visual Impact and Overall Appeal
  • Unit Planner
  • Grading Rubric
  • Resources

Poetry Competition Rubric:

Awards and Recognition

  • First place: $500
  • Second place: $200
  • Third place: $150

Winners will be announced at the 2026 WISE Summit.

Dress Code

Participants are required to wear business casual attire that aligns with Islamic principles. No branded clothing, except WISE Talent attire, will be allowed.

Showcasing and Publications

Winning entries may be published on the WISE Forum website, and eligible poetry finalists will be featured in a poetry anthology. Visual artworks and poems will also be shared in a video compilation to be distributed across participating schools.

Additional Resources

To support schools and students in preparing their submissions, the WISE Talent team has made various resources available, including:

  • Unit Planner
  • Teacher Curriculum Resources
  • Grading Rubric for Art and Poetry Competitions

You can access these resources and more through the following links:

For more inquiries, reach out to the WISE Talent Committee at wisetalent@wiseforum.org.

Training and Support

To help schools make the most of these resources and answer any additional questions, the WISE Talent team is offering training sessions. TBA.