The Center for the Humanities at Temple University (CHAT) is a vibrant hub for interdisciplinary research, dialogue, and public programming. Our mission is to highlight the vital role of the humanities in addressing key issues in fields like medicine, law, business, and the sciences. At CHAT, we define the humanities in broad and inclusive terms, valuing diverse perspectives, methodologies, and scholarly traditions.
Bound, Bind, Bonds — these interrelated terms have long shaped humanities scholarship, offering frameworks to explore socio-cultural, historical, and economic relationships. Binding, for example, may describe bodily modifications that align inner identity with outward appearance. To be bound can evoke temporal stuckness or dissonance, or signal connection to structures that guide but also constrain, while Bondage names systems of confinement and exclusion. Yet these terms also gesture toward affective ties—community, intimacy, and solidarity.
This year’s theme invites reflection on the various ways we are bound and unbound, as well as the shifting forms that binding and bonds can take.
Inspired by the Justice Through Art Contest, hosted by Criminal Justice, CHAT aims to cultivate a literal space where students engage with the humanities by channeling their energy, and critical thinking through artistic expression. We aim to showcase student-created work that reflects the complexity of human experience and the transformative power of the arts.
We welcome submissions in the visual arts or literary arts. All entries should engage with this year’s theme of Un/Bound and reflect the expressive power of the humanities through the arts.
Prizes
Win up to $400 and have your work showcased in the CHAT Arts Space! Prizes include $400 for first place, $300 for second, and $200 for third.
Please note that awards are deposited into your student account and will first be applied to any existing balance.
Categories
Visual Arts & Design
Includes:
Drawing, Painting (any media)
Printmaking, Mixed-media/Multimedia
Poster Art or Graphic Design
Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, or other 3D works
Submission Format: JPG, PNG, or GIF (for still images); max file size 10 MB
Literary Arts
Includes:
Poetry (max 350 words)
Creative Writing: fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrid forms (max 1000 words)
Submission Format: DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, PDF
Submission Instructions
1. Complete the online submission form and upload your work along with the form.
For Visual Arts & Design submissions, you may upload up to three images to provide alternate views of the same piece.
For Literary Arts, your work will be printed and displayed as part of the exhibition.
2. Please ensure that your submission is ready for public display at the time of upload:
For Visual or Design entries, submit high-quality images or video/audio files, and include any necessary hardware or specifications for installation or presentation. Click here for tips on how to photograph and display visual work.
For Literary submissions, carefully proofread your work for typos and formatting. We will display printed excerpts or full texts as submitted.
The Center for the Humanities at Temple University (CHAT) invites faculty and students to apply for awards supporting humanities-related research or creative projects. Awards range from $250–$500, with the possibility of additional support. Funding is provided by the Humanities and Arts Research Program (HARP) and the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR).
Recipients are expected to: • Attend at least one workshop or event organized by CHAT. • Present their work at the 2026 Humanities Day Symposium. • Provide a brief final report summarizing project outcomes. • Attribute OVPR funding in any publications, presentations, or posters resulting from the award.
