Contests

Celebrating Art

• Students get published, win prizes,

  teachers earn school supplies

• Sponsored by Blick

celebrate the west

• Celebrate the West is a regional art competition hosted by the Western Governors' Association that challenges high school students to create works inspired by their state.

• Key Issues to reflect and create work about

  • agriculture

  • air quality

  • connectivity

  • cybersecurity

  • data

  • economic development

  • energy

  • environmental management

  • forest and rangeland management

  • healthcare

  • housing

  • mining

  • missing and murdered indigenous people

  • natural resources development

  • species management

  • state-federal relationship

  • transportation

  • water

  • wildfires

  • waste isolation pilot plant

  • workforce development

  • veterans

• Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

  • Elected the 40th governor of California in 2018. 

  • Early Years: The fourth-generation San Franciscan was born in 1967.

  • Education: Attended Redwood High School and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Santa Clara University.

  • Career: Newsome was elected the 40th Governor of California in 2018.  Prior to that, he served as Mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011, when he became the 49th Lieutenant Governor of California. He previously had founded the PlumpJack Group after college, which managed 23 wineries, restaurants and hotels.

Congressional Art Competition

• New West Charter High is in the 36th Congressional district of California.

• The representative for this district is:
  Ted Lieu

• About the Competition

  Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

  Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.

• How to Enter the 2025 Art Competition

  1. Your teacher will contact your representative to confirm your district’s participation and obtain specific guidance.

  2. Review the 2024 Rules for Students and Teachers.

  3. Complete the 2024 Student Release Form.

  4. Submit the Student Release Form and any other required materials to your representative by the deadline specified on their website.

• The rules and checklist for the 2025 competition are scheduled to be posted in early February on House.gov. Students must fill out the Student Release Form and attach it to the back of their submissions.

  If you would like more information on the Congressional Art Competition, please contact Aurelia Friedman at Aurelia.Friedman@mail.house.gov or (323) 651-1040.

Gene Autry Museum

Since 2016, the Autry has presented exhibitions of student artwork around a compelling theme. Each year we develop a theme and send out a call for submissions at the beginning of the school year. Selections for the Student Visual Arts Exhibition are made in the Spring and juried student artwork is installed in our museum galleries followed by an opening reception and awards ceremony. Grades 6-12.

Student Visual Arts Exhibition 2024: Visions of Freedom 

Artwork will be on display at the Autry in Heritage Court from April 20 – June 5, 2024. 

Getty Museum Student Photography unshuttered

Calling all California teen photographers!

We're excited to announce a NEW open call for original photographs from CA teens, ages 13 – 19, in response to the 2023-2024 @gettyunshuttered theme, A Spectrum of ...

As always, the prompt is open to your creative and artistic interpretation. Your photography could represent love, emotions, color, or light. Or you might capture California's varied landscapes, diverse communities, or defining issues that make the state distinct. A panel of arts professionals will select 25 winning works.

Visit opencall.unshuttered.org to learn more about submissions details & submit your photos today!

Submissions open through January 26, 2024.

NASA Langley student art competition

• Details on next year’s contest, including theme and submission timeline, will be available in October.

• Contest Invitation

  NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia is inviting students in grades K-12 to draw, paint or design their vision of what’s next in science, aeronautics, and exploration in the NASA Langley Student Art Contest. The contest is open to all children grades K-12 attending public, private, parochial and homeschools who are residents of the United States.

  Contest Inspiration

  The following NASA Langley focus areas may provide some additional inspiration: 

  • Explore Flight:

  • – Enable On-Demand Mobility through integration of vehicle and autonomous systems that are certifiable and improve airspace operations and safety
    – Improve commercial air transport markets through integration and maturation of key aviation and convergent technologies and experimental flight demonstrations.

  • Explore Earth:

  • – Quantify Earth’s atmospheric composition and radiation budget through research, technology development, flight instrument development, and measurements
    – Develop and deploy lidar remote sensing techniques to precisely capture regional and global
    measurements that aid in science community studies of winds, CO2, clouds, aerosols, and other key atmospheric processes

  • Explore Moon to Mars:

  • – Design, develop, and demonstrate entry, descent and landing (EDL) systems to enable robotic and human space exploration missions
    – Design, develop, and demonstrate advanced space structures for long-duration deep space human space missions
    – Design, develop, and demonstrate concepts and technologies for autonomous in-space assembly of space structures

  Contest Deadline

  The Art Contest submission period begins December 1, 2023 and concludes on December 31, 2023 at midnight EST.

  We are asking schools, organizations, and community groups to encourage parents to submit one entry per student.

  A grand-prize winner will be selected from all entries and a first place, second place, third place, and honorable mention winner will be selected for each grade level.

  For additional information or questions, please email larc-art-contest@mail.nasa.gov.

national youngarts foundation

Why Apply?

Cash awards

Receive cash prizes between $250 and $10,000.

Mentorship by accomplished artists

We provide mentorship opportunities with accomplished artists to help award winners prepare for and navigate a career in the arts.

A lifetime of creative and professional support

YoungArts is more than an award. Artists access resources and opportunities at every stage of their development to support a sustainable practice.

A robust network

YoungArts award winners join a community of distinguished artists that provides a long–term, robust network to help artists at all stages of their education and career.

Nomination for U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts

Each year, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects 20 YoungArts award winners who attend National YoungArts Week as U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students who exemplify academic and artistic excellence.

National recognition  

The prestigious award gives emerging artists a headstart by demonstrating that they have received national recognition from highly respected artists in their field early on in their artistic journey.

$fee to apply

scholastic art and writing

1. CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT

Both students and educators can create an account using our online portal. This is where you’ll find your school and enter your work.

CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT

2. UPLOAD YOUR BEST WORK

Don’t forget to seek feedback from educators, family, and friends when editing your work. 

For art, you will upload digital images of your work to enter into the Awards. Show your work at its best with high quality documentation. 

TIPS FOR DOCUMENTING YOUR WORK

Be sure to select the category that best represents your work.

VIEW CATEGORIES

3. PAY FOR YOUR ENTRY

Entry fees are $10 per individual entry and $30 per portfolio. If the entry fee is a barrier to your participation in the Awards, you can request the fee to be waived in the online portal.

The Scholastic Awards open for entries in September and deadlines vary between December and January, depending on your region. Curious about your region’s deadline?

FIND YOUR REGION

Visit our online galleries to see works from past National Medalists.

VISIT THE GALLERY

New West Charter is Region At-Large West Art

GUIDELINES

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to submit to the Awards:

• In grades 7-12

• Age 13 years or older

• Residing in the United States, U.S. territories or military bases, or Canada

Students should list their current grade level when submitting. Seniors who will graduate mid-term in December are eligible to participate.

The Deadline to enter Region-at-Large is Monday December 11, 2023 at 11:59pm Eastern Time.

If you have any more questions please check out our blog https://newsroom.artandwriting.org/2023/11/30/troubleshooting-your-2024-scholastic-awards-entry/

Youth Art Month Council for Art Education

2025 Theme is Healing Through Color

Flag & Banner Program

Youth Art Month, The Council for Art Education coordinates Youth Art Month activities at the national level. The primary event is the State Flag Program. Using the national or state theme, each state coordinates a flag design contest, with the winning design made into a flag for display in the Youth Art Month Museum at the National Art Education Association (NAEA) annual National Convention.

Please click here to learn how to participate in the CAEA YAM Flag and Banner Program.

Follow this link to learn more about the Flag and Banner Program.


Council for Art Education YAM Website
https://councilforarteducation.org/youth-art-month/youth-art-month-museum/

Youth Art Month is a celebration of the visual arts!

Youth Art Month encourages support for quality school art programs and promotes art material safety. The Council for Art Education (CFAE) administers the program at the national level. The program provides a medium for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences unlike any other curriculum subjects, including:
• Problem solving
• Creativity
• Observation
• Communication

Art shows, special exhibits, fundraisers, and school and community activities take place annually, traditionally during March, to celebrate visual art education for grades K – 12.

Visit the CFAE website for Youth Art Month information, timelines, guidelines, annual theme, and templates for help managing or starting your program. For specific details about the CAEA YAM programs, scroll down this page to each Area’s section.

Overview

Started in 1961 through The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI), Youth Art Month exists to:
1. Recognize art education as a viable factor in the total education curricular that develops citizens of a global society.
2. Recognize art is a necessity for the full development of better quality of life for all.
3. Direct attention to the value of art education for divergent and critical thinking.
4. Expand art programs in schools and stimulate new art programs.
5. Encourage commitment to the arts by students, community organizations, and individuals everywhere.
6. Provide additional opportunities for individuals of all ages to participate in creative art learning.
7. Increase community, business and governmental support for art education.
8. Increase community understanding and interest in art and art education through involvement in art exhibits, workshops, and other creative ventures.
9. Reflect and demonstrate the goals of the National Art Education Association that work toward the improvement of art education at all levels.

California Art Educator Association

Los Angeles Youth Art Month Exhibit (YAM) 2024 - Building Community Through Art - images below in gallery

Gallery Link

https://sites.google.com/buckley.org/losangelesyouthartmonth2024

Christine Terry, Youth Art Month Los Angeles Chair

Holly Stuczynski, National Art Honor Society New West Charter High School

Congratulations to our very own New West Charter National Art Honor Society members that were selected for the California Youth Art Month juried art show. This is a competitive experience and I am very proud of all ten students. Two students were recognized with an honorable mention: Bethsy Roman (grade 12) and Vivian Kennedy (grade 10) .  The other eight selected artists are Augusta Hirsch (12th) , Ava McNeely 12th), Lana Wurts (11th), Madeline Robinette (11th), Aurtoro Garcia (10th), Kaylee Kim (9th), Max Zax 9th),  and Daisy Huber (9th).  

• Augusta Hirsch, 12th, Selected Artist, Scuffed, Cardboard sculpture

  • Scuffed is inspired by abandoned buildings found in DTLA. I find abandoned buildings very fascinating and beautiful in their own way. Yes, they may look depressing and sad however, art and nature can really change it and make it appear less intimidating. Scuffed

• Bethsy Roman, 12th, Selected Artist - Honorable Mention, Noche Buena, Oil paint on canvas,

  • When I was a child, I discovered that my grandmother also knew how to draw; flowers were her specialty. She told me how she used to hand-embroider flowers into fabric back in Mexico, and they were mostly used for keeping the tortillas warm. I devoted a lot of my time growing up drawing flowers, as it reminded me of my grandmother. I was especially fond of drawing poinsettias because they were her favorites. In this work, I painted my eye reflected off a poinsettia flower. This work represents me looking back at my childhood memories of drawing flowers with my grandmother, Noche Buena

• Aurtoro Garza, 10th, Selected Artist, Connections, Watercolor, pen and paint marker on paper,

  • This work was an abstract depiction of the way connection to one another liberates us. Connections

• Lana Wurts, 11th, Selected Artist, A Bird’s Eye View, Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper

  • A Bird’s Eye View represents how conservation is still possible as the hand is letting go of the Painted Bunting, who swiftly flies away symbolizes humans relinquishing their oppressive hold on nature.  The background is a blurry landscape of a city to show the damage that has already been done, then in contrast, is the escaping bird, who creates a sense of hope for future generations.  If people decide to learn how to help Painted Buntings now, then they could actually frolic and just maybe even thrive.  Every species deserves freedom through representation, and while the Painted Bunting may be notorious for its sweet and gentle song, it still lacks a voice to speak up for itself. A Bird’s Eye View

• Kaylee Kim, 9th, Selected Artist, Inter-connection, Watercolor on paper

  • This artwork shows the connection between someone you love. It shows the intertwining of family even when it sometimes breaks off. The root of the connection is always there being supported by love. The gray circles represent memories and the lines show the grasp of a relationship. Interconnected

• Ava Mc Neely, 12th, Selected Artist Sight of the Pier, Watercolor and ink on paper

  • This represents my love of visiting places and Santa Monica is an example of a place that is free and that everyone can go. The Santa Monica Pier is a fun place where people hang out and go on rides as well as look at the beach in Southern California. My emotional connection to this place is when I look at the ocean, I feel a sense of calm. Sight of the Pier

• Daisy Huber, 9th, Selected Artist, Venice Beach, Graphite on paper,

  • Venice is where I used to live. It was my hometown. I would go to the boardwalk and explore as a young kid yearning to know more about life. This drawing shows a glimpse of Venice and how much it meant to me-- even though I moved, I still have that little girl that wants to explore life in me. I will forever cherish living in such a beautiful place full of twists and turns! Venice Beach

• Vivian Kennedy 10th, Selected Artist - Honorable Mention, Face No.2, Oil on canvas,

  • Each time we view a person in a photograph or painting, we observe only the surface level of said person, and not who is behind their eyes—the stories they hold, the secrets they keep; we don’t usually recognize this person has lived a life as, if not more, complex as our own. I didn’t realized this until spending hours with a brush analyzing and carving out the little details of a single person’s face. I will never really know the true story behind their eyes that I fought so hard to capture. The face I have painted has captured me for hours in a mess of oil paints and endless observation, and yet I will never know the person this face belongs to. So much can be told in a painting with so little context. This painting captures that for me. Face No.2

• Madeline Robinette, 11th, Selected Artist Visions of Freedom, Graphite and colored pencil on paper

  • After graduating from Soochow University in Taipei, Taiwan, my grandma immigrated to America in search of new opportunities. With her education she was able to create a successful life for her and her family, paving the way for the life I live today. Ever since I was little she has repeatedly told me this one single thing - "Study, study, study." As I've grown older, I've finally realized why she has such a strong passion for education. Knowledge was what gave her her freedom, and she hopes that I am able to find my freedoms too, through my education. Visions of Freedom

• Max Zax 9th, Selected Artist, Hanna King, Graphite on paper

  • My Nana, Hanna King, was an Ashkenazi jew living in Nazi occupied Poland and fortunately after years of perseverance and strength, her and her mother both survived. Growing up, my grandma was smart, kind, and full of integrity. The Statue of Liberty represents New York, where my Nana started her new life along with representing democracy and equality. The ship above her head is General Blachford, the ship my grandma traveled on from Ellis Island to NY, an ode to her hardships traveling overseas. Finally, the ball of yarn and needles represent a past time me and my Nana shared where she would try to teach me how to knit and shower me with gifts. Hanna King