39 Art Competitions for High School Students – 2025
February 13, 2025
Art competitions are excellent opportunities for high school students to demonstrate their creativity and receive recognition for their hard work. Putting themselves out there might take a little鈥搊r big鈥損ush out of the old comfort zone. But once students enter into art competitions, the possibilities for personal and artistic growth are bountiful. As art encompasses a broad spectrum, high school artists should see if their art medium is covered in the competition. Due to the diverse nature of these art competitions, chances are that they’ll be eligible for most of them.
These art competitions are both international and domestic, covering painting, sculpture, film, digital data, photography, drawing and more. Check out the best art competitions for high school students below:
1)
- Hosted by: YoungArts
- Deadline: Mid-October (contest opens in June)
- Entry fee: $35 (fee waiver available)
- Prizes: Cash prizes, scholarship nominations, lifetime access to grants, funding, networking, and more
- Eligibility: U.S.-based 9th-12th grade students (15-18 years old)
The National Arts Competition is one of the most prestigious art competitions for high school students. There are ten categories to enter into, and students have the opportunity to be nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholarship in the Arts.
2)
- Hosted by:
- Deadline: Spring (varies by district)
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: Year-long display in the U.S. Capitol Building
- Eligibility: U.S. 9th-12th grade students in participating districts
Since the Congressional Art Competition was first created in 1982, it has seen over 650,000 students apply. High school students can submit their artwork in 2D, which encompasses photography.
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
3)
- Hosted by: Google
- Deadline: Mid-March
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: Display on Google homepage for 24 hours, Scholarships, Technology package for school, Google swag
- Eligibility: K-12 students in US
The chance to win a $30,000 scholarship? Awarding one of the largest prizes, Doodle for Google is a unique challenge for high school students interested in art competitions. Students can submit one doodle per year.
4)
- Hosted by: Cooper Hewitt
- Deadline: Mid-February
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: $500 gift card, mentorship program, online exhibition
- Eligibility: U.S. students, grades 9-12
The Design Challenge from Cooper Hewitt is the art competition for high school students passionate about data visualization and community impact. Finalists have the chance to attend Mentor Weekend at the MIT Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism.
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
5)
- Hosted by: Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
- Deadline: December and January, depending on region
- Entry fee: $10 per individual entry, $30 per portfolio (fee waiver available)
- Prizes: Scholarships of up to $12,500
- Eligibility: Students grades 7-12 (age 13 and up)
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is one of the most prestigious art competitions in America. From poetry and fiction to architecture and design, students have the opportunity to win scholarships for college.
Art Competitions for High School Students (continued)
6)
- Hosted by:
- Deadline: Mid-October
- Entry fee: $90 for NSHSS membership (fee waiver available)
- Prizes: $2,000 scholarship
- Eligibility: High school students and recent graduates
7)
- Hosted by: Vans
- Deadline: Mid-April
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: Up to $50,000 for school art budget
- Eligibility: U.S. high school students
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
8)
- Hosted by: Artists Network
- Deadline: Mid-June
- Entry fee: $20 for members, $30 for non-members
- Prizes: Publication in Artists Magazine and a one-year membership to Artists鈥 Network ($99 value)
- Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years of age as of February 1st of the contest year
9)
- Hosted by: Western Governors鈥 Association
- Deadline: Late April
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: $200-$1,500
- Eligibility: High school students in Western states
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
10)
- Hosted by: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Fine & Applied Arts (FAA)
- Deadline: Early April
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: Scholarships to college and summer programs
- Eligibility: 9th-12th grade students
11)
- Hosted by: Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs
- Deadline: Mid-June
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: Cash prizes up to $1,500
- Eligibility: International students ages 11-18
12)
- Hosted by: Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
- Deadline: Early March
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: Scholarships ranging from $50-$500
- Eligibility: International students ages 11-19
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
13)
- Hosted by: United Nations
- Deadline: Early February
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: Presentation at World Wildlife Day Event
- Eligibility: International youth ages 4-18
14)
- Hosted by: Teen Ink
- Deadline: Varies (contests are run monthly)
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: $25 Amazon gift card and publication
- Eligibility: International teens ages 13-19
15)
- Hosted by: Celebrating Art
- Deadline: Varies based on season
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: $25 gift cards for top ten students and art supplies for teachers
- Eligibility: U.S. K-12 students
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
16)
- Hosted by: Never Such Innocence
- Deadline: Late May
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: Publication and digital certificate
- Eligibility: International students ages 9-18
17)
- Hosted by: All-American High School Film Festival
Deadline: Late September
Entry fee: $250-$500
Prizes: $5,000 for winning team - Eligibility: U.S. High school students and incoming college freshman
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
18)
- Hosted by: National PTA
- Deadline: Early February
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: Awards given at district, regional, state, and national levels
- Eligibility: K-12
19)
- Hosted by: NASA鈥檚 Langley Research Center
- Deadline: Late December
- Entry fee: None
- Prizes: Certificate and NASA swag
- Eligibility: U.S. K-12 students
Follow along for more of the best art competitions for high school students
20)
- Hosted by: Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
- Deadline: Early June
- Entry fee: $10
- Prizes: Prize package
- Eligibility: 1st-12th grade students
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
21)
- Hosted by: Embracing Our Differences
- Deadline: July 1, 2025
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: Winners are awarded $2000, which will be shared with their school鈥檚 art or writing program
- Eligibility: Grades 9-12
22)
- Hosted by: Sony
- Deadline: January 3, 2025
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: Winner receives Youth Photographer of the Year title, a Sony digital imaging kit, a trophy, inclusion in an exhibition and other prizes; other winners receive exposure to global press and promotion
- Eligibility: Applicants must be under 19 years old
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
23)
- Hosted by: The Lumen Prize
- Deadline: May 23, 2025
- Entry fee: $30 per submission (January 31 – February 28); $40 per submission (March 1 – May 23)
- Prizes: Other awards are based on the artist鈥檚 background or concept. Prizes in these categories range from $500 to $4,000.
- Eligibility: Any grade
24)
- Hosted by: David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
- Deadline: February 14, 2025
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: Winners receive vouchers for art supplies, certificates, digital animal adoptions and more
- Eligibility: Ages 12-16
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
25)
- Hosted by: Never Such Innocent
- Deadline: February 28, 2025
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: Prizes will be announced later during the competition
- Eligibility: Students ages 9-18 can apply.
26)
- Hosted by: K12 Enrichment Programs, Stride K12
- Deadline: For the 2024 year, March 25, 2024
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: A total of $20,000 of prizes are awarded; in Physical & Digital Art, 1st Place wins $1,500, 2nd Place wins $500, 3rd Place wins $250; in AI-Generated Art, one winner in each grade band is awarded $500
- Eligibility: Students across the United States in grade K-12 who are residents in the country at the time of their entry
27)
- Hosted by: The Japan Quality Assurance Organization International Certification Organization Network, and UNICEF Tokyo
- Deadline: May 31, 2025
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: 48 winners will receive special memorabilia
- Eligibility: Open to children ages 7-15 worldwide
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
28)
- Hosted by: EarthX
- Deadline: Please check the website for latest updates
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: Winners receive cash prizes; total prize value of up to $7500
- Eligibility: Young filmmakers from 11-22 years old
29)
- Hosted by: Reading Municipal Light Department HIgh School
- Deadline: April 15 each year
- Entry fee: Super Early Bird Deadline: $15 for Artists Network members, $25 for non-members; Early Bird Deadline: $25 for Artists Network members, $35 for non-members; Final Deadline: $30 for Artists Network members, $40 for non-members
- Prizes: Winners will receive gift cards or art supplies for school; winners鈥 artwork can be featured on the cover of RMLD鈥檚 annual report
- Eligibility: Students living in Reading, North Reading, Wilmington and Lynnfield Center in Massachusetts
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
30)
- Hosted by: All American High School Film Festival
- Deadline: Free Submission Deadline: Monday, March 3rd, 2025; Regular Submission Deadline: Monday, April 28th, 2025; Late Submission Deadline: Monday, June 2nd, 2025; Final Deadline: Monday, June 30th, 2025
- Entry fee: $20 regular submission fee; $45 late submission fee; $65 final deadline fee
- Prizes: All award nominees and winners are announced at the Teen Indie Awards on October 10th at The Kings Theater in Brooklyn, NY; winners are awarded cash prizes and recognition
- Eligibility: The filmmakers must have been in high school or younger when they produced their work
31)
- Hosted by: National Parent Teacher Association
- Deadline: February 1 each year
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: 200 students are selected for the following awards: Award of Merit, Award of Excellence and Award of Outstanding Interpretation
- Eligibility: Students must be a member of their local PTA/PTSA or have a primary household member who is a member
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
32)
- Hosted by: The White Bear Center for the Arts
- Deadline: May 22, 2024
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: Awards are available in cash prizes, publication opportunities and more
- Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9-12 living in the Twin Cities Northeast Metro Region
33)
- Hosted by: National Art Honor Society
- Deadline: February 4, 2025
- Entry fee: Please check website for latest updates
- Prizes: Winners have their entries displayed at the NAHS Juried Exhibition
- Eligibility: Open to members of the National Art Honor Society
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
34)
- Hosted by: National Association of State Aviation Officials
- Deadline: State context, January 7, 2025; National contest, February 21, 2025
- Entry fee: Participants in the pre-final round pay a fee of 8 EUR
- Prizes: State award winners are recognized by their state, and the top three entries in each age group are then judged in Washington D.C. for the national competition; National award winners if sent to FAI for the international competition; International award winners receive gold, silver and bronze medals and certificates
- Eligibility: Open to children ages 6-17
35)
- Hosted by: The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City
- Deadline: Please check the website for the latest updates
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: Winners receive awards, scholarships and historical recognition
- Eligibility: High school students enrolled in New York City public schools
Art Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
36)
- Hosted by: Columbia Scholastic Press Association
- Deadline: For the 2024 year: Print News and Magazines, August 16, 2024; Yearbook and Digital Media, August 16, 2024
- Entry fee: $170 for the first 30 entries; $50 for each additional set of five entries
- Prizes: Winners are recognized for their contributions to student media and are featured in CSPA publications
- Eligibility: High school students working on their school鈥檚 newspaper or magazine
37)
- Hosted by: Pentel
- Deadline: For the 2024 year, October 31, 2024
- Entry fee: Please check the website for latest updates
- Prizes: Winners are awarded cash prizes and their artwork is featured in Pentel publications
- Eligibility: Open to children ages 3-15
38)
- Hosted by: National Geographic
- Deadline: Usually at the end of January
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: Winners receive prizes and their photographs are featured on the National Geographic website
- Eligibility: Students must be at least 13 years old; grades 7 to 12; residents of the United States
39)
- Hosted by: Digital Arts, Film & Television (DAFT)
- Deadline: February 15, 2024
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Prizes: Winner receives $200 in cash; two honorable mentions receive $50
- Eligibility: Open to high school students in Michigan
High school art competitions that pave the way for the future
Some of the art competitions listed above rank among the nation鈥s most competitive art competitions for high schoolers. Many of these art competitions also search for students who successfully communicate their concern for pressing topics impacting today鈥檚 world, like climate change or environmental protection.
If you鈥檙e concerned about whether or not you鈥檇 win, you won鈥檛 know unless you submit your entry. So why not see which one is calling your name?
Additional Resources
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- 62 Best Research Opportunities for High School Students
- 2025 Best Summer Programs
- 17 Best Performing Arts High Schools in the US
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