Contests & awards
How to prepare a concise and professional cover letter to accompany contest and award submissions.
Crafting a concise, professional cover letter for contest submissions requires clarity, relevance, and tone that mirrors the judging criteria, while showcasing your strongest achievements without overselling yourself.
Published by
Scott Morgan
July 26, 2025 - 3 min Read
A well-composed cover letter serves as a bridge between your work and the people who will judge it. It should open with a crisp, specific purpose: the contest you are entering, the role your submission plays in your artistic trajectory, and why this particular opportunity matters. Avoid vague statements and personal fluff; instead, present a concrete rationale that ties your track record to the competition’s themes. Briefly acknowledge any special guidelines or deadlines. By laying a solid, targeted foundation, you invite reviewers to engage with your work rather than question your intent or fit.
In the body of the letter, articulate the essence of your project in a single, vivid paragraph. Describe the inspiration, the core techniques used, and the notable outcomes you expect from the submission. Emphasize what makes your piece unique within the category, while remaining mindful of the audience—editors, jurors, or sponsors who seek relevance and potential impact. Demonstrate awareness of the contest’s objectives, and demonstrate how your submission aligns with them. Keep language precise and accessible, avoiding jargon that might obscure meaning or create distance from the reader.
Build credibility with specifics, relevance, and professionalism.
Effective cover letters begin with a confident summary that situates your work in context. State the submission title, format, and duration, then connect it to your broader artistic goals. Highlight any specific achievements that directly relate to the contest’s criteria, such as prior awards, commissions, or notable performances. The aim is to show momentum without appearing boastful. Incorporate a sentence that reflects your understanding of the audience’s needs, whether it is a panel of judges or a program director. A well-framed introduction invites further reading and signals serious intent.
Transition to a concise description of the piece and its relevance. Focus on measurable or demonstrable elements—timeline, structure, or audience impact—that convey your readiness for the selection process. Include a short note about your production team, if applicable, and how collaboration enhances the project. Mention any available press, reviews, or public reception that corroborates your claim to quality, but keep citations brief and within the letter’s length constraints. End the section with a sentence that primes reviewers to understand why this submission deserves consideration.
Demonstrate alignment with criteria while maintaining personal voice.
A strong cover letter communicates not only what you made, but why it matters now. Explain the work’s timely resonance, whether it intersects with current cultural conversations or advances a particular craft. Bridge your personal voice with professional discipline by noting your method, scheduling realities, and the practicalities of presenting the piece to a broader audience. If you have performed or presented similar works, briefly describe outcomes or measurable audience engagement. The goal is to project reliability and preparedness, so reviewers feel confident that you can deliver as promised within the contest’s framework.
Conclude the core message with gratitude and a clear call to action. Express appreciation for the judges’ time and the opportunity to participate. State the next steps succinctly: where to find the submission, any required attachments, and the timeline for decisions. Offer to provide additional materials upon request, such as a short artist statement, a technical rider, or a link to a demo. A courteous close reinforces your professionalism and leaves a lasting impression of credibility rather than pressure. Finish with a respectful sign-off that aligns with standard professional correspondence norms.
Follow guidelines, polish, and project professional humility.
Beyond factual details, a persuasive letter conveys your artistic voice without veering into sentimentality. Choose language that balances imagination with precision, so readers glimpse the work’s texture and mood while understanding logistical realities. Use concrete descriptors rather than abstract adjectives, and connect them to specific aspects of the piece. For instance, discuss how a particular tempo shift affects narrative tension or how a sonic palette supports thematic intent. This approach signals that you’ve thoughtfully engaged with the project’s mechanics and its expressive aims, increasing the likelihood that judges will see you as both serious and creative.
Finally, tailor each letter to the submission guidelines. Flawless adherence to formatting—font size, margins, page limits, and file types—demonstrates respect for the process. If the contest requests a one-page letter or a two-page description, follow it meticulously. Proofread for clarity, grammar, and consistency in naming conventions. A well-edited letter reduces friction for the reader and communicates efficiency. Consider having a colleague review your draft for perspective and to catch details you might miss. Small acts of polish multiply the impact of your core message and elevate your professional presentation.
Close with clarity, courtesy, and readiness for next steps.
A practical structure can streamline the reader’s experience. Start with a focused opening, present the work succinctly, then connect it to your broader practice, and close with a courteous invitation for further engagement. Use paragraph breaks to guide the reviewer’s eye, avoiding dense blocks of text that obscure meaning. Maintain consistent tense and perspective to reinforce clarity. Choose a tone that reflects confidence without arrogance, recognizing that judges seek both ambition and humility. Each paragraph should earn its place by delivering concrete information, not merely commentary. In this way, your cover letter becomes an efficient tool for storytelling and assessment.
Remember to attach or link essential extras, but reference them succinctly in the letter. If you include a short artist statement, a CV, or a video demo, mention how these materials complement the submission and where reviewers can access them. Clarify any rights or permissions that are necessary for showcasing your work, such as performance rights or collaboration credits. By pre-empting questions about ancillary materials, you reduce the need for back-and-forth and expedite the evaluation process. A well-documented package signals organizational competence and respect for the contest’s workflow.
To close, offer a precise, actionable invitation. State your availability for interviews, demonstrations, or follow-up questions, and provide reliable contact details. If the submission system requires a title page or metadata fields, confirm you have completed them accurately and consistently. A closing paragraph that reiterates your enthusiasm and readiness to engage helps humanize the process while maintaining professional distance. Your sign-off should match formal mailing conventions, reinforcing your identity and ensuring that reviewers remember the writer behind the work.
In summary, a concise, professional cover letter can significantly influence the reception of a contest submission. The most successful letters balance purpose, clarity, and a confident sense of your artistic voice. They explicitly connect the work to judging criteria, demonstrate readiness for production realities, and invite ongoing dialogue. By treating the letter as a strategic component rather than an afterthought, you create a cohesive package that respects the reviewer’s time and elevates your chances. With thoughtful preparation, your cover letter becomes an integral part of your presentation, not merely a formal courtesy.
