Menu

 

Student Art Competition in the US

last updated: 08/31/2023

 

The following is a list of major visual art competitions for students in the US to participate in.

 
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards was launched in 1923 and has become the nation's longest-running, most prestigious program for recognizing talented young artists. The competition is conducted at both regional and national levels. 

Scholastic Art & Writing Award

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards was launched in 1923 and has become the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious program for recognizing talented young artists. The competition is conducted at both regional and national levels. 
  • Timeline: The annual competition is open for entries in September and deadlines vary between December and January, depending on the specific region. Regional awards are announced by late January. National Medalists are published on the website in the next spring.
  • Eligibility: Teens in grades 7 to 12 (ages 13 and up) can apply in 17 categories of art (and 11 categories of writing). The art portfolio category is for graduating seniors only.
  • Requirements: For a single artwork competition, an applicant can enter multiple artworks. Each artwork will be assessed individually. For an art portfolio competition, an applicant is required to submit 6 distinct artworks that communicate a single cohesive idea or visual investigation. Works can come from one category or any combination of multiple categories.
  • Entry fee: $10 per individual entry and $30 per portfolio. Fee waiver can be requested.
  • Awards: There are 107 Affiliate Partners art regions and 6 separate, smaller regions for students who live outside of areas covered by Affiliate Partners. The awards start at the regional level including Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention. The Gold Key winners are qualified for the consideration of national awards that include Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and scholarship awards. National Medalists and their educators are honored with a ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City. National Medalists are eligible for scholarships of up to $12,500. 
CelebratingArt.com is devoted to the promotion and appreciation of student art. The top entries are published in an anthology that will record the creative works of student artists. This contest provides an excellent opportunity for younger artists.

Celebrating Art

CelebratingArt.com is devoted to the promotion and appreciation of student art. The top entries are published in an anthology that will record the creative works of student artists. This contest provides an excellent opportunity for younger artists.
  • Timeline: There are fall, spring, and summer contests each year. Fall 2023 contest deadline is December 7, 2023. Spring 2024 contest deadline is April 4, 2024. Summer 2024 contest deadline is August 8, 2024. The students that are accepted to be published are typically notified within a month after the deadline. Top 10 winners are finalized and posted on the website and social media pages after a couple of months.
  • Eligibility: Any student in grades K-12 in the United State can enter the contest.
  • Requirements: One entry is allowed per student for each contest.
  • Entry fee: Free
  • Awards: Top 45% are accepted to be published in an anthology that includes their work. Top ten contest winners are chosen in each grade division of K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. The top ten winners receive a $25 award and a free book. Teachers earn free art supplies.
This nationwide high school visual art competition started in 1982 and has attracted more than 650,000 high school students to participate. It is sponsored by the Congressional Institute to recognize and encourage artists in the congressional districts and the nation.

Congressional Art Competition

This nationwide high school visual art competition started in 1982 and has attracted more than 650,000 high school students to participate. It is sponsored by the Congressional Institute to recognize and encourage artists in the congressional districts and the nation.
  • Timeline: The deadlines for submission vary by districts. It is typically during mid April to early May. Check the district office website for the 2024 contest update.
  • Eligibility: The competition is open to all students in the 9th-12th grades. It may be open to 7th and 8th graders in certain districts.
  • Requirements: Artwork must be 2D and the size of the framed artwork cannot be larger than 26 in x 26 in x 4 in (H x W x D) or heavier than 15 lbs. The physical artwork is required to be dropped off at the district office for judgment.
  • Entry fee: Free
  • Awards: Winners are recognized both in their districts and at an annual ceremony in Washing D.C. The top winning work from each district is displayed for one year at the U.S. Capital.
Founded in 1981, YoungArts identifies exceptional young artists, amplifies their potential and invests in their lifelong creative freedom. The competition spans across 10 disciplines including Visual Art. 

YoungArts Competition

Founded in 1981, YoungArts identifies exceptional young artists, amplifies their potential and invests in their lifelong creative freedom. The competition spans across 10 disciplines including Visual Art. 
  • Timeline: The 2024 YoungArts application opened on June 12, 2023 and will close on October 13, 2023. The winners are expected to be announced by November 30.
  • Eligibility: The competition is open to students in grades 10-12 or 15-18 years of age on December 1 of the year the application is submitted. The applicant has to be either a US citizen, a US permanent resident or can demonstrate that the person can legally receive taxable income in the United States. The applicant also cannot be a previous award winner with distinction who attended National YoungArts Week.
  • Requirements: For the visual arts category, the applicant needs to submit a portfolio that includes a total of 10 images that represent 8 to 10 of your best works from the last two years. The majority of the portfolio should explore a cohesive idea, technique, or theme. If submitting 8 works, the two additional images should be detail shots. Written sections are also required along with artworks. Applicants are eligible to submit in more than one discipline or category. 
  • Entry fee: $35 application fee. Fee waiver can be requested.
  • Awards: There are two levels of recognition: YoungArts award and YoungArts award with distinction. YoungArts award winners receive a monetary award of $250. YoungArts award with distinction winners are invited to attend National YoungArts Week and will have their work further evaluated for cash awards of up to $10,000. Award winners with distinction who attend National YoungArts Week in Miami and meet the eligibility requirements are also considered for nomination to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
This high school competition is offered by the College of Fine and Applied Arts at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The program aims to encourage a future generation of creative thinkers and emphasize the importance of the arts in society.

FAA High School Competition

This high school competition is offered by the College of Fine and Applied Arts at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The program aims to encourage a future generation of creative thinkers and emphasize the importance of the arts in society.
  • Timeline: The 2023-2024 competition opens on September 1, 2023. For Senior Competition, the deadline is November 1, 2022 and winners will be announced by Friday, December 15, 2023. For Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Competition, the deadline is March 1, 2024 and winners will be announced by March 15, 2024.
  • Eligibility: Both US and internal students in grades 9-12 can participate.
  • Requirements: Students may submit one entry for only one contest per year. For the Architecture category, applicants need to submit architectural drawings; for the Art and Design category, applicants need to submit self-portraits.
  • Entry fee: Free
  • Awards: Winners are recognized at first place, second place, third place and honorable mention. The winning senior will receive a $100 gift certificate for purchases at the Illini Union Bookstore. The winning freshman/sophomore/junior for each competition will receive one scholarship to attend an FAA summer program.
This annual competition is sponsored by Google. Doodles are judged according to artistic skills, creativity in using the letters of the Google logo and how well the theme is communicated by the artwork and the associated writings.

Doodle for Google

This annual competition is sponsored by Google. Doodles are judged according to artistic skills, creativity in using the letters of the Google logo and how well the theme is communicated by the artwork and the associated writings.
  • Timeline: The 2023 contest was open to students from January to early March. The finalists were announced in May and the national winner was announced in early June. Follow doodle4google website for 2024 schedules. 
  • Eligibility: Open to students in grades K-12 nationwide.
  • Requirements: One student can only submit one Doodle artwork based upon a pre-announced theme. Some theme examples in recent years include: “I am grateful for…” (2023), “I care for myself by…” (2022), and “I am strong because…” (2021).
  • Entry fee: Free
  • Awards: There are 54 state or territory winners (at least 10 in each of the five age groups), 5 national finalists and 1 national winner. Each national finalist will receive a $5,000 college scholarship and the national winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship. In addition, the national winner will receive a $50,000 technology package for their school/non-profit organization. The national winner also has the opportunity to have the artwork featured on the Google homepage. 

[ Go back to Blog Main Page ]

The information above is from the following sources: https://www.artandwriting.org/, https://www.celebratingart.com/, https://www.house.gov/educators-and-students/congressional-art-competition/, https://youngarts.org/, https://faa.illinois.edu/student-resources/future-students/high-school-competition/ and http://doodle4google.com/. Please visit these websites for more details and most updated information.

Back To Top
© Copyright 2023-2024 ElaineeeArt.com. All rights reserved.
All registered trademarks herein are the property of their respective owners.