826NYC is happy to announce the inaugural launch of the David Zwirner Books & 826NYC Literary Prize for New York City high school students ages 16 and over.

Students from 826NYC partner schools will have the opportunity to submit an essay on the following subject:

Pick a place in your neighborhood. It could be a place you like to visit, one you often walk by, or even a place you’ve only ever heard of. Write about what it looks like, feels like, smells like, and the people who go there. How has this place changed over time? What does it mean to you?

Finalists will work with a team of hand-picked and trained volunteers to revise their piece. From the final group of revised pieces one students will be selected for a paid internship with David Zwirner Books in the summer of 2017. As part of the internship the student will work with DZB editors and a David Zwirner artist on creating a publication of all the finalists.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with David Zwirner Books on this amazing opportunity,” said Joshua Mandelbaum, Executive Director. “The internship with DZB is an opportunity for a student with a passion for both writing and the visual arts to learn from an amazing group of editors and artists.”

The winner will be announced in spring 2017.