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COMPETITION Rules

Begin the ARTEFFECT journey by reviewing the rules that will guide a successful submission to the 2026 ARTEFFECT Competition.

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Who is eligible?

The 2026 ARTEFFECT annual competition is open to all students in grades 6-12. Students may develop their projects with a classroom teacher or independently (outside the classroom) with the confirmation of an instructor, parent, or legal guardian. Group projects are ineligible.

Eligibility for Prizes

Students who have won two top awards in previous ARTEFFECT competitions are no longer eligible. No submissions to the 2026 ARTEFFECT competition can win more than one award or prize.

FAQS

See our FAQ page for frequently asked questions and more eligibility details.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Submitted projects must be entirely student-produced. Students may not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools during any stage of the creative process for artworks or Impact Statements. This includes brainstorming, drafting, editing, and final production. Students will be required to certify that AI tools have not been employed in any fashion. Submitted projects will be screened for potential AI-generated content.

What are the STEPS to participate?

All projects submitted to the competition should have the following components:

Choose Your Unsung Hero

Unsung Heroes are role models, largely unrecognized by society, who demonstrated extraordinary heroic traits and took actions in service to others that made a positive and profound impact on the course of history. They demonstrated heroic traits including conscience, courage, creativity, generosity, humility, perseverance, and reliability. Explore the stories of these individuals as inspiring role models!

Student must choose an approved Unsung Hero from the Unsung Heroes Directory. The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes has an expanding list of over 130 individuals spanning time and all fields of endeavor. For competition submissions on individuals not listed in the Unsung Heroes Directory, please email arteffect@lowellmilken.org for approval prior to submission.

Explore the Unsung Heroes through the following interactives: Timeline, Role Models, and Pictographs.

Create Your Artwork

Students create original works of art for their entries. The ARTEFFECT competition accepts visual artworks of various mediums including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, collage, mixed media, digital art, installation, and textiles. Students may create artworks using varied media including:

  • 2D Dry Media: 2D dry media such as graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, pastels.
  • 2D Web Media: 2D wet media such as acrylic, oil, watercolor, gouache, ink wash, printmaking.
  • 2D Digital Media: 2D digital media. Digital art files should be at least 300 dpi. Multimedia films and photography are not eligible.
  • Mixed Media: Various mixed media incorporating photography, digital art, textiles, collage, paper, and other materials.
  • 3D Media: 3D media such as ceramic, pottery, porcelain, fibers, metals, wood, glass, etc.

There is no size limit. Artwork media and dimensions must be listed on the competition submission form. 

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Look at the Judging Rubric to see how your project will be evaluated.

Write Your Impact Statement

In developing an ARTEFFECT project, students prepare written Impact Statements (500-1000 words) to accompany their visual artworks. In this essay, students should address the following prompts:

  • Introduce your Unsung Hero. Explain how and why you chose this individual. What do you find inspirational or most admire about this individual as a role model (e.g., character traits, heroic actions, area of expertise)?
  • Discuss your Unsung Hero’s impact. Share about this Unsung Hero’s story. How did your Unsung Hero contribute to a positive change in the course of history or have an impact on the lives of others?
  • Describe your artistic vision and process. What is the vision behind your creative interpretation of this story? How does your artwork express your Unsung Hero’s character traits, heroic actions, or impact? Discuss your choices of materials and techniques and any research used to develop your project.
  • Share the impact of your artwork. How will your Unsung Hero’s story influence your actions or outlook on life? Discuss any hopes and plans for sharing your artwork with others. List any links that illustrate the extended reach of your project into your community

Download the Impact Statement Outline PDF for reference. Please submit your Impact Statement in English.

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Submit Your Project!

To complete the online submission form, you will need the below items. Once you have gathered the required materials and information, you are ready to submit your project on Submittable! You will need to create a free account on Submittable and you can save and review your entry before finalizing your submission. To complete the online form, you will need the following:

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  • High-resolution images of your artwork. At least one image is required for 2D artworks, and four images are required for 3D artworks (.jpg or .png formats, 5MB limit).
  • Your written impact statement.
  • Student contact information
  • Teacher contact information (if your project was completed at school.
  • Optional: A photo of you with your artwork (an in-process photos).

How are projects evaluated?

ARTEFFECT is a juried competition with a panel comprising experts and practitioners from the fields of art education, art history, design, fine arts, and museums. The judging panel will give the most consideration to entries that celebrate the Unsung Hero’s story in a high-quality and well-crafted artwork that is visually compelling and original in concept. View the Judging Rubric for more details.

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The following weighted criteria is used to evaluate projects:

Creative Interpretation of the Unsung Hero’s Story (40%)

The artwork demonstrates a thorough understanding of the Unsung Hero’s story in an innovative and exceptionally thoughtful way. The use of well-developed artistic ideas expresses an interpretation of the Unsung Hero’s character traits, heroic act(s), and/or social impact in a manner that is thought-provoking, complex, and compelling.

Aesthetic Value (40%)

The artwork demonstrates a high level of technical skill, craftsmanship, and outstanding execution of the media. The artist applied refined artistic techniques to the creation of the artwork with a thoughtful, eye-catching composition, strong and distinctive artistic voice, and high aesthetic value.

Impact Statement (20%)

The essay is 500-1000 words, and addresses all four prompt questions in a clear, captivating, and articulate synthesis. It presents the artist’s impressions about Unsung Hero’s inspiring qualities and impact, and the artwork’s intended meaning or message. The artist includes a thorough description of their creative process, an authentic reflection on the impact this project had on their life, and a specific plan for sharing their artwork with others. The writing uses standard English conventions with a high level of competency.

How are projects submitted?

The 2026 ARTEFFECT competition submission window is now closed. 2026 Finalists were announced on May 11, 2026. 2026 Winners were announced on June 1, 2026.

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Upon submitting a project to the competition, each participant will receive a confirmation email that includes a link to a digital Certificate of Participation that can be self-completed and printed.

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All finalists and winners will be featured on the ARTEFFECT website and receive a certificate. Selected award-winning projects will be showcased in exhibitions at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes and the ARTEFFECT Gallery at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream. Winners are required to send their original artworks to ARTEFFECT.

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For any assistance, please email arteffect@lowellmilken.org.

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