The Creative Art Competitions for High School Students

• Why participate in creative art competitions?

• Creative Art competitions provide competitors with a platform to express their artistic abilities. By completing them, competitors can gain recognition and even win scholarships. In addition, competitions are good examples of real-world situations that can help one grow. Art competitions are good to add to a portfolio and can teach people new aspects of art they did not know about before. 

• 1. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

  Why Participate: The Scholastic Awards allow young artists and writers to win grants and show their work publicly. They encourage creativity in a wide range of forms. This renowned competition recognizes outstanding talent, boosts students’ art portfolios, and opens the door to support and praise nationwide.

  Description: This competition offers different types of art, like drawing, painting, photography, and mixed media.

• Eligibility: Open to students in grades 7-12 in the United States.

• Deadline: Around December/January, but each region differs.

• Prizes: Scholarships, exhibition opportunities, and recognition at a national ceremony.

• 2. YoungArts National Arts Competition

  Why Participate: YoungArts National Arts Competition: Students who enter the YoungArts competition can get help with their careers from famous artists, get cash awards, and get mentorship. This school helps young artists develop skills in various areas and builds a support community. It’s an important place for young artists to get their careers going.

• Description: This competition invites participants to submit visual art, photography, or design. 

  Eligibility: Anyone who is a U.S. student between the ages of 15 and 18 or in grades 10 to 12 can compete. 

• Deadline: October 13, 2024.

• Prizes: The winner will receive mentorship via master classes with famous artists, up to 10,000 dollars in funding, and performance opportunities.

• 3. Congressional Art Competition

• Why Participate: The Congressional Art Competition gives high school kids a unique chance to have their art shown in the U.S. Capitol. It also raises awareness of the value of art in education nationwide. By participating, students can improve their artistic image and meet leaders in their community.

• Description: This competition, sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives, requires participants to create a drawing or painting no more than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. 

• Eligibility: Anyone who is a high school student in the congressional districts.

• Deadline: Springtime annually

• Prizes: Each district’s winners will display their art on the U.S. Capitol for one year.

   4. STEAM in AI Multimodal Challenge

  Why Participate: The STEAM in AI Multimodal Championship invites middle and high school students to dive into the exciting world of AI by tackling real-world challenges. This competition offers a unique opportunity to enhance your AI skills, collaborate with peers, and gain hands-on experience in a supportive environment. Whether you’re a coder, designer, or project manager, you’ll learn from top experts, build future-ready skills, and have the chance to win awards and recognition for your innovative AI solutions.

  Description: An AI challenge where students work on problems presented and create presentations for solutions to inspire students to pursue technology. 

  Eligibility: Anyone who is in middle school or high school.

  Date: 2024 season

  Prize: Up to $1,000 prize

• 5. Doodle for Google

  Why Participate: When kids join Doodle for Google, their art can be shown on Google’s homepage, where millions of people can see it. This game’s big prizes and scholarships encourage creativity and the development of new ideas. It’s a great chance for young artists to get noticed and understood.

  Description: The competition wants its competitors to create a drawing inspired by a certain theme.

• Eligibility: Anyone who is a U.S. student and is in kindergarten through 12th grade can compete.

• Deadline: March 4, 2024.

• Prizes: The winner can earn scholarship awards, Google hardware, and a trip to Google headquarters. In addition, their drawing will be on Google’s homepage.

• 6. Ocean Awareness Contest

  Why Participate: This contest invites young artists to use their art to learn more about ocean conservation and raise awareness. Participants can participate in important talks about the environment and win prizes for their work. It’s an important way to connect art and activism.

  Description: This competition wants competitors to use art, such as poetry, prose, and film, to demonstrate the connections between human activities and the oceans.

• Eligibility: To compete, one must be 11-18 years old and from anywhere worldwide. 

• Deadline: June 17, 2024.

• Prizes: The winner can earn a scholarship of up to $1,500, exhibit their work, and potentially get published.

• 7. ArtEffect Project

  Why Participate: For this competition, students are asked to make art based on historical people who have done good things. It enables art and history to be mixed, which helps people understand how societies change. Participating people can win grants and have their work shown, showing how art can change things.

• Description: This competition wants its competitors to create art inspired by the Holocaust. 

  Eligibility: To compete must be in middle or high school but can be from anywhere in the world. 

• Deadline: February 21, 2024.

• Prizes: The.  winner can receive scholarships worth between 200 and 2,000 dollars.

• 8. National Young Composers Challenge (NYCC)

• Why Participate: The NYCC grants young musicians the chance to perform with a symphony orchestra, showcase their original compositions, and receive comments from professional composers. Aspiring composers can learn a lot from this challenge and gain a lot of publicity. It’s an excellent place for young artists to showcase their skills and get noticed.

• Description: This competition has competitors compose their music and will be judged by professionals in the music industry.

• Eligibility: To compete, one must be a U.S. citizen between 13 and 18. 

• Deadline: February 29, 2024.

• Prizes: The winner can win cash awards, watch professional musicians perform, and receive feedback from them.

• Want to learn about how AI and art intersect with one another?

  Apply to Join the STEAM in AI Intensive Summer  Cohort 2024 today!