donate
donate
ABOUT
overview
Founder
History
Team
News
Contact
annual
Overview
Rules
Enter
Summer
Finalists
Winners
COMPETITIONs
PROGRAMS
Educators
Ambassadors
Fellowship
Apply
Ambassadors
Cohorts
Online PD Sessions
CLAssrooms
Virtual Visits
UNSUNG HEROES
Overview
Directory
Interact
Timeline
Role Models
Pictographs
EXHIBITIONS
Art Gallery
MCAAD
Online Exhibitions
RESOURCES
Competitions
Lesson Plans
Films & Videos
Publications
Graphics

Use the Art Gallery Search to find information about Unsung Heroes, artworks, young artists, and more!

X
About
+
overview
founder
history
team
news
contact
Competitions
+
Annual/ Overview/ Rules/ Enter
summer
finalists
winners
programs
+
educators/ Ambassadors Fellowship/ Ambassadors Cohorts/ Online PD Sessions
classrooms/ Virtual Visits
Unsung heroes
+
overview
directory
interact/ Role Models/ Pictographs/ Timeline
exhibitions
+
art gallery
Online Exhibitions
mcaad
resources
+
Competitions
Lesson Plans
Films & Videos
Publications
X
about
about
Results
Approach
Philosophy
FAQ
resources
Media
Blog
Résumé Resources
positions
contact
Schedule a call
career advancement
X
About
+
overviewFounderhistoryteamnewscontact
Competitions
+
Annual
+
Overviewrulesenter
summerfinalistswinners
Programs
+
Educators
+
Ambassadors fellowshipApplyambassadors cohortsonline pd sessions
Classrooms
+
Virtual Visits
unsung heroes
+
overviewdirectory
Interact
+
Timelinerole modelsPictographs
exhibitions
+
art galleryonline exhibitionsMCAAD
resources
+
Competitionslesson plansFilms & VideosPublicationsGraphics
Search

COMPETITION Rules

Begin the ARTEFFECT journey by reviewing the rules that will guide a successful submission to the 2027 ARTEFFECT Competition.

Overview
rules
enter
finalists
winners

Who is eligible?

The 2027 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 2027 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

Generative AI, or tools that create entirely new imagery based on prompts, may be used in early planning and development stages of creating your work of art, but may not be used to produce any part of your final submission. Students must adapt/transform early AI-generated studies into an original concept. Copying AI concepts is not permitted. Software packages often include non-generative AI tools to refine images created by humans—for example, to correct color or sharpen images. These tools may be used at any stage of the creative process because they do not generate new content. As part of the submission process, students will be required to document the use of AI in the creation of their submission materials. AI tools or software may not be used at any stage for the creation of the Impact Statement including brainstorming, drafting, editing, proofing, and final production.

All submissions, including works of art and text, will be screened for potential AI-generated content.

Use of Historical Reference Photographs

Students may create artwork depicting Unsung Heroes using source photographs or other reference materials, but they should use original, public-domain, or appropriately licensed images whenever possible. Students should not simply reproduce copyrighted photographs. When a copyrighted image is used as a reference, the resulting artwork should represent the student's own original artistic interpretation. Students will be asked to provide links to source and reference images.

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 140 individuals spanning time and all fields of endeavor. Students must choose an Unsung Hero listed in the ARTEFFECT Directory for their competition submission.

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

Read the Rules & Guidelines

Plan for crafting your best artwork and Impact Statement. Review the competition rules and guidelines about eligibility criteria and the required visual and written components of your project. Review the competition Rules and Guidelines.

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 Wet 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 digital art, textiles, collage, paper, and other materials.
  • 3D Media: 3D media such as ceramics, fibers, metals, wood, glass, etc.

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

‍

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.

‍

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:

‍

  • 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.

‍

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 2027 ARTEFFECT competition submission window is now open. Submissions are due Monday, April 19, 2027 at 11:59 PM Pacific time.

‍

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.

‍

‍

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.

‍

For any assistance, please email info@arteffectlmc.org.

‍

stay connected
Join the mailing list and follow ARTEFFECT on social media for current news and featured stories.
subscribe
ARTEFECTlmc is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit exploring the inspiring stories of Unsung Heroes through the visual arts. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Lowell Milken
Family Foundation