Celebrate the West Art Competitio

The Western Governors’ Foundation is excited to launch the 2023 Celebrate the West regional art competition, sponsored by Americans for the Arts.

The annual competition, now in its eighth year, challenges high school students to create original works inspired by their state. Students are encouraged to think about what the West means to them, what it means to call the West home, what they learned about its complex past, and what they imagine its future may look like.

Annual Amount

WGA's panel of art experts will select one finalist from each state and territory. State Winners will receive $200 and compete for overall First ($1,500), Second ($750), and Third Place ($500) Awards at the regional level, as well as as well as a People's Choice award.

Additional Selection Criteria

Eligibility: The competition is open to high school students (Grades 9-12) in public, private, charter,
and alternative schools. Home-schooled students in that age group also may enter. Students must be
attending school in the following Western Governors’ Association (WGA) member states or territories:
Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada,
New Mexico, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.

Application Process

To enter the competition, students must live in one of the 17 Western states and two U.S. territories whose Governors participate in the bipartisan WGA and be enrolled in grades 9-12. Once completed, their work must be submitted using a digital entry form. The deadline for all submissions is April 30, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. MST.

DIGITAL ENTRY FORM:  https://woorise.com/wgfapplication/celebrate-the-west-2023

GUIDELINES

The original artwork must be two-dimensional. Eligible media include: painting (oil, watercolor, acrylic, etc.), drawing (pencil, colored pencil, charcoal, ink, markers, pastels, etc.) lithography, silkscreen, mixed media, computer graphics, and collage. No photography or video-based submissions will be accepted.

The un-framed artwork submitted shall not be smaller than 8” x 10” and shall not be larger than 24” x 36” unless prior approval is given to the student by WGF.

WGA takes plagiarism and forgery very seriously. All artwork goes through a rigorous vetting process to ensure originality and confirm the work does not violate any U.S. copyright laws. “Original” is defined as artwork that is unique in concept, design, and execution and is created directly and personally by the student. “Original” work is not a copy or imitation of another person’s work either online or offline.

Deadline

April 30, 2023

For the application or more information go to:
https://westgov.org/celebrate-the-west/competition/2023-competition