The Benefits of Entering an Art Contest

Art contests offer children some great life lessons:

• Establishes a goal: Every contest has guidelines and a deadline, which gives a child a specific goal to work toward.
• Builds confidence: The process of creating the artwork itself builds self-confidence, as the child goes from an “I can’t draw” mindset to one of “I can enter this contest — and I might win!”
• Encourages strong effort: The art children enter should be their best work, teaching them that no matter what they do, they should do it well.
• Promotes cultural and social awareness: Many art contests focus on themes related to cultural diversity or social and environmental issues. Participating in these contests can help children develop a deeper understanding of these topics, as well as use art as a medium for change.
• Provides recognition: If they win, their artwork may be showcased in exhibitions, publications, or online. There’s also the fun of a prize and learning to be a gracious winner.
• Teaches how to persevere: If they don’t win, there’s the practice of dealing with disappointment and trying again.
• Teaches the importance of effort: Win or lose, when your child creates a piece of art and enters it in a contest, they have tried, which is the first step to success in any endeavor. Just the act of creating art and putting it out into the world is an accomplishment.

Enter Now!

Ready to enter? Keep scrolling for a list of current online art contests for kids and teens (listed in order of deadline). Almost all of them are free to enter.  Once in a while, there will be a contest or two that have just a small fee.

To find out more about a certain contest, click on the name below. If you have a contest you’d like for me to list, please contact me.

Stay Up-to-Date! 

You can stay up-to-date on current contests through my free newsletter. Subscribe here!

 

Art Contests 

(In order by deadline)

 

 

Sony World Photography Awards Youth Competition (All Countries) 

DEADLINE: January 3, 2025

Ages: 19 and under

 

Kid’s Fish Art Contest (Ontario Only) 

DEADLINE: January 3, 2025

Ages: Grades 4-12

 

Holidays Unplugged Creative Contest (US Only) 

Art, Essays, and Poetry

DEADLINE: January 18, 2025

Ages: 4-18

 

Young Railway Photographer of the Year (UK Only) 

DEADLINE: January 31, 2025

Ages: 25 and Under

 

California Coastal Art & Poetry Contest (California Only) 

DEADLINE: January 31, 2025

Ages: Grades K-12

 

U.S. Kids Magazine Cover Contest (US Only) 

DEADLINE: February 1, 2025

Ages: 2-12

Global Canvas Children’s Art Competition (All Countries)

DEADLINE: February 14, 2025

Ages: 4-16

 

Never Such Innocence International Competition (All Countries) 

DEADLINE: February 28, 2025

Ages: 9-18

 

National Wind Energy Art Challenge (US Only) 

DEADLINE: February 28, 2025

Ages: Grades K-8

 

Science Without Borders Challenge (All Countries)

DEADLINE: March 3, 2025

Ages: 11-19

 

VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest (US Only)

DEADLINE: March 31, 2025

Ages: Grades 9-12

 

ARTEFFECT Competition (All Countries) 

DEADLINE: April 27, 2025

Informational Session: January 15, 2025 

Ages: Grades 6-12

 

 

Art Contests with Deadlines that Vary

If you do not live in the country indicated, you can enter any that say “All Countries”. Contests marked “All Countries” are for young artists living anywhere in the world. 

 

FAI Young Artists Contests (All Countries) 

Deadline: Deadline Varies by Country. Contact your country representative. You can find the information here.

Ages: 6 – 17

 

Sultan of Arts (All Countries)

DEADLINE: Varies

Ages: 24 and Under

Art, Music, Pantomime, Ballet

 

Congressional Art Competition (US Only)

Deadline: Varies. Contact your representative. 

Ages: High School

 

 

World Photograph Organisation Monthly Youth Contest (All Countries) 

DEADLINE: End of Each Month

Ages: 12-19