2026 Common Reader - Art and Creative Writing Contest

As part of this year’s Common Reader Program, CMC is sponsoring an Art and Creative Writing Contest.

Entries will be inspired by the 2026 Common Reader, Go as a River by Shelley Read, which explores themes of loss and recovery, of trauma and resilience, of place and displacement. Honestly grappling with these ideas is essential if we are to better understand Colorado’s history and effectively support our shared human communities and natural landscapes now and into the future.

Theme: Go as a River: What the Current Carries

Purpose:

Explore how place, loss, identity, and belonging shift when the world around us begins to change. Inspired by Go as a River, this theme considers the currents—personal, environmental, social, political, and historical—that reshape our lives and communities. This theme invites us to explore what a current takes from us, and what it leaves behind us, the places we lose, the pieces of ourselves it carries forward, and the new ground we find downstream.

Skills:

Participating in the art and creative writing contest provides an avenue to think innovatively and to create an innovative or unique idea, question, format, or product that pushes existing boundaries.

Knowledge:

This submission will allow you to share your understanding of What the Current Carries as it connects to Shelley Read's novel Go as a River.

Tasks:

1. Read Shelley Read’s book Go as a River.
2. Create your submission that demonstrates your skills and knowledge as listed above.
3. Please attach your submissions and email them to cmccommonreader@coloradomtn.edu by November 6, 2026.
4. Be sure to include that your entry is for the Go as a River: What the Current Carries contest and include Title of the work; name under which you’d like to be published on the Common Reader webpage, your phone number, mailing address, campus affiliation (Glenwood Springs, Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Rifle, etc.) and campus status (student, staff, faculty, or community member)
5. For Written work: Written works must not exceed 1,500 words; file naming: “firstname_lastname_title.doc”
6. For Visual Art: JPEG file; resolution: 300 ppi; image size: minimum 8 inches on its longest side; file naming: “firstname_lastname_title.jpg”
7. Performance art: MP4 file; max 5 minutes.

Criteria for Success Rubric:

Recognition:

There will be winners awarded in each category: written, visual, performance art. Winners will be recognized on CMC’s Common Reader website.

The Criteria for Success are Creative Thinking & Innovation, Connection to Theme, Meaning & Impact, and Craft & Composition. See rubric here.

Submit your work:

Email submissions to cmccommonreader@coloradomtn.edu by November 6, 2026.