Best Design and Art Competitions for High School Students

If you have a knack for the arts, competitions can be a great way to show your talent. Along with cash prizes and awards, you can get feedback from judges, earn recognition for your work, and build a community of like-minded students. This post covers eight top art competitions for high school students, including overviews, key dates, eligibility, and more.

1. National YoungArts Competition

• Description: YoungArts is one of the most prestigious and well-known art competitions in the world. Students can submit work in 10 disciplines, including writing, visual arts, film, photography, dance, and classical music.
• Eligibility: 15-18 years old or in grades 10-12, and based in the United States.
• Awards: cash prizes from $250 to $10,000, artistic support, a network of peers and mentors, and the chance to be nominated as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
• Dates: applications usually open in July, with the submission deadline typically in October.
• Cost: $35 application fee.

2. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

• About: one of the oldest and most prestigious art and writing programs for teens, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards runs annually with many entry categories, from short stories and poetry to painting, film, and animation.
• Eligibility: grades 7-12, age 13 or older, residing in the United States, U.S. territories, or Canada.
• Awards: a tiered system. All students enter regional selection, where top entries earn Gold Keys and advance to the national awards, where students receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals in their categories. Special prizes and scholarships are also given.
• Dates: the submission deadline varies by region but typically falls between December and January. See here to find your local deadline.
• Cost: $10 per submission or $30 per portfolio.

3. Doodle for Google

• Description: run by Google, this is one of the more unique competitions on the list. Students design a Google logo based on a theme, submitting their doodle in any art medium along with a typed statement explaining what they created. A recent prompt was: “My wish for the next 25 years.”
• Eligibility: enrolled in grades K-12 at a U.S. school, and a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
• Awards: a $55,000 scholarship, a $50,000 technology package for the winner’s school or non-profit of choice, Google hardware, and swag.
• Dates: the deadline usually falls in late March.
• Cost: free.

4. Ocean Awareness Contest

• About: this annual contest raises awareness of the climate crisis and spotlights how students examine their “individual responses to our evolving world.” The stories don’t have to be catastrophic. The contest invites discussion of how climate change affects students’ everyday lives. Students may submit art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia.
• Eligibility: students ages 11-18 from around the world (Junior Division: 11-14; Senior Division: 15-18).
• Awards: $1,000 first prize, $750 second prize, $500 bronze prize, $250 pearl prize, $100 honorable mention.
• Dates: the deadline typically falls in mid-June; confirm the current year’s date.
• Cost: free.

5. Congressional Art Competition

• Description: sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives, this competition recognizes talented students in the visual arts. Participants may submit any 2D artwork in mediums ranging from mixed media to painting or digital art.
• Eligibility: high school students residing in any U.S. congressional district.
• Awards: the winning piece is displayed at the U.S. Capitol for one year.
• Dates: late April each year.
• Cost: free.

6. New York Times Student Writing and Art Competitions

• About: the New York Times Learning Network runs many annual writing and art competitions for students, from editorial and photo essay contests to multimedia projects about high school life. Entries are judged on creativity, broader themes, and personal narrative.
• Eligibility: middle and high school students aged 13-19 based anywhere in the world.
• Awards: varies, but usually includes publication of the student’s work on the New York Times website.
• Dates: varies by contest, with submission windows spread across the school year.
• Cost: free.

7. Celebrating Art

• About: Celebrating Art lets students across the U.S. submit original art in many mediums for the chance to be published. The competition runs three times a year, with one entry per student per contest, though students may enter all three.
• Eligibility: K-12 students based in the U.S.
• Awards: the top 45% of submissions are published in a printed anthology, and the top 10 submissions in each grade division (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12) receive $25 and a free book.
• Dates: three contests run through the year. Recent deadlines have been:
  • Spring: April 6
  • Fall: August 10
  • Winter: December 7
• Cost: free.

8. Cooper Hewitt’s National High School Design Competition

• About: this competition challenges high school students to combine design and art with data. The two-tiered contest starts with a first stage open to all entrants. Finalists advance to a second stage, where they refine their designs to meet requirements, take part in mentoring activities, and present to judges.
• Eligibility: high school students in grades 9-12 (or homeschooled), ages 13-19, residing in the U.S.
• Awards: the winner receives a custom design gift package and a complimentary Family Membership to Cooper Hewitt. Finalists attend an in-person Mentor Weekend with accommodations provided, and their designs (along with Honorable Mentions) are featured in an online exhibition on the Cooper Hewitt website.
• Dates: the deadline falls in February. The mentor weekend is in early May, and the judging weekend in mid-June.
• Cost: free.

Conclusion

These are eight strong art competitions for high schoolers. If you have a creative outlet, competitions are a great way to get your work out there and gain recognition for your talent. They also give you a reason to keep practicing and honing your skills.

If your interests aren’t limited to the arts, check out these 50+ STEM opportunities in this curated guide. High school competitions aren’t just good for college applications, they also give you valuable experience and room to grow. Best of luck.