DASHing Words in Motion - Poetry Contest -2025

Celebrating Poetry in Alexandria

The “DASHing Words in Motion” poetry contest brings recognition to writers, promotes an appreciation of poetry as an art form, and provides inspiration to individuals using the Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH buses and trolleys. The competition encourages quality writing by writers 16 years or older who live, work, or study in the City of Alexandria, Virginia. The “DASHing Words in Motion” program provides a venue for writers to display their poems. Participation in “DASHing Words in Motion” is voluntary. Selected poets are not reimbursed for submittals or participation in the program.

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants are emerging or established writers and poets.
Applicants live, work or study in the City of Alexandria, Virginia.
Applicants are a minimum of 16 years of age.
Members of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and City of Alexandria staff are ineligible to apply.

Content:
The competition’s primary goal is to encourage a broad range of ideas and subject matter. Possible inspirational ideas might stem from:

the Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH bus motto “Keep Alexandria Moving,”
bus stops, neighborhoods, buses, roads, or other modes of transportation within the City of Alexandria, community, and connection.

Entry Rules:

Applicants must apply online. Mailed applications will not be considered.
Up to three poems per person can be submitted.
Submitted poems must be previously unpublished.
Poems must be 30 words or less.
Poems must be NO longer than 15 lines.
Poems should be titled.
Poetry must be uploaded as a 1-sided Word document. Font size should be 12point. Do not upload photocopies from books or magazines.
Do not place name or address on poetry pages.
Should your poem be selected, you will be asked for a short bio and photograph

Deadline: Friday, January 17, 2025, 5 p.m.

Notification: Selected poets will be NOTIFIED in Mid-February 2025.

Selection Process: Entries will be juried by a Task Force. Each poem will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

Clarity of theme: Traveling/Transportation/Connection/Community
Readability/poem structure/clarity
Appropriateness for the competition
Creativity and Memorability

Collaborating Partners: The “DASHing Words in Motion” poetry contest is a project of the Office of the Arts, a Division of the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, along with the following collaborating partners: Alexandria Transit Company (DASH); and Zeina Azzam, City Poet Laureate.

For more information, call the Office of the Arts, a division, Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities on 703.746.5565; arts@alexandriava.gov; or visit alexandriava.gov/Arts.

Submission Agreement and Guidelines

Thank you for participating in the “DASHing Words in Motion” project. We look forward to the possibility of placing your poetry on the Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH Bus and Trolley System. You will be NOTIFIED in Mid-February whether your poem(s) has/have been selected.

Submissions without contact information will not be considered. Attention, teachers: Please double check your students’ submissions for this information.

Question Title

* 1. Contact Information

Name *

Address *

Address 2

City/Town *

State/Province *

ZIP/Postal Code *

Email Address *

Phone Number *

Poems: File upload only accepts Word document (.doc or.docs) and file size should be less than 2 MB each. NOTE: File uploads should be titled and must not include the name of the applicant in the poems.

Question Title

* 2. Poem (1) Title

Question Title

* 3. Poem (1) File Upload

DOC, DOCX file types only.

Choose File

Question Title

* 4. Poem (2) Title

Question Title

* 5. Poem (2) Upload

DOC, DOCX file types only.

Choose File

Question Title

* 6. Poem (3) Title

Question Title

* 7. Poem (3) Upload

DOC, DOCX file types only.

Choose File

WARRANTIES/COPYRIGHTS: By submitting a poem to “DASHing Words in Motion,” you give the City of Alexandria permission to:

Publish the work on bus placards and exhibit on DASH buses and trolleys through the months of April 2025.
Include the poems in various city marketing locations including, but not limited to websites, social media platforms, brochures, and flyers.
Include the poem(s) in a possible anthology of “2025 DASHing Words in Motion.”
Retain the poem(s) in records/archives for future reference.

The Author represents and warrants that the poem(s) submitted to the City of Alexandria for “DASHing Words in Motion” is/are original and has/have not previously been published elsewhere.

The Author shall maintain and hold all related copyrights associated for their poem(s).

This non-exclusive perpetual license, which does not transfer ownership of the copyright to the City, shall endure for the entire term of the copyright in and to said poem(s), and shall survive all assignments of copyright according to Title 17 of the United States Code. Any transfer or assignment of the copyright shall be reported in writing to the City Manager of the City of Alexandria with a copy to the Deputy Director, Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. This non-exclusive perpetual license is royalty-free and the Author understands that s/he is not entitled to any royalties or other payments for reproductions of the poem(s). The Author hereby warrants and represents the rights granted herein are free and clear of any claims, demands, exclusive licenses, or other encumbrances and that the Author has the sole and exclusive right to enter into this non-exclusive perpetual license. This agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties and cannot be modified without written permission of both the City and the Author.

Please acknowledge and submit, by doing so, you declare that you are the authorized individual, or you have the authority to act for the above applicant. Please keep a copy for records. Please keep the Office of the Arts informed of any changes in address. Details regarding the publishing agreement are included above.

I declare that I am authorized to act for the above applicant. I submit this entry for the "DASHing Words in Motion" program to the City of Alexandria and confirm that the information contained herein is accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Question Title

* 8. Author Name:

Question Title

* 9. Date:

Date

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* 10. Guardian Name (If applicable):

Question Title

* 11. Date

Date

If questions, please email arts@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5565.

Thank you!