Ava Tanner of Bethel High School is named the 2026 winner of the local Sister Cities of Hampton art contest

Ava Tanner, a senior at Bethel High School, has been named the 2026 winner of the Sister Cities of Hampton local art contest. A student of art teacher Christie Liddell, Ava received a $250 cash prize for her winning entry. This year’s theme, “Voices of Today, Visions of Tomorrow,” invited young artists to share how today’s voices can shape the global community of the future.

 

Her artwork, titled Foundations, highlights the generational impact of African American women over the past 200 years. “We, as a society, would not be successful without the contributions and successes of our ancestors,” said Tanner. “In this piece, I depict generations of women laying hands on the generation to come—pouring into each other. By showing the lineage of prominent female figures, young women are able to see remarkable examples of leadership, inspiring them to forge their own path and goals.”

 

Ava’s colorful and meaningful interpretation reflects how African American women have uplifted and guided one another across generations, passing down strength, wisdom, and opportunity. Congratulations to Ava and Ms. Liddell. Ava’s entry has been submitted to Sister Cities International for the national competition.

 

Sister Cities International serves as the national membership organization for Sister City programs in nearly 500 communities, with relationships in over 2,000 communities in more than 140 countries. They provide members with a number of programs to support them in promoting citizen diplomacy, peace, and understanding through exchanges that focus on arts and culture, youth and education, business and trade, and community development.

 The Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) is an annual contest that encourages youth worldwide to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork, literature, photography, and music for both original and reinterpreted pieces. Entries are judged on originality, composition, and theme interpretation.