Each year, more than 4,000 high school students from across the country participate in the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. The contest began in 1979 to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism in youth. This contest comprises only two-dimensional entries. The 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest is exclusively for three-dimensional art pieces.

 

 

 

Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contests (2-D & 3-D)

Who is Eligible to Apply?

• Students in grades 9-12 by the March 31 deadline who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study Program in the United States, its territories and possessions; or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools.
• Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence status (the application for which has not been denied) to become a U.S. citizen.
• Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or older, GED and adult education students, or national winners of previous Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contests are ineligible.

What is the Scholarship Amount?

• The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $37,000.

What are the Scholarship Submission Requirements?

• Two-dimensional art must be on canvas or paper. Watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen, ink, oil, marker or other media taught may be used.
• Do not frame two-dimensional pieces.
• Submit canvas entries on a stretcher frame or canvas board. Reinforce the back with heavy paper. Mats, including mounted and floating mats, may be used.
• The art should be no smaller than 8” x 10” but no larger than 18” x 24”, INCLUDING mat.
• Complete entry form and attach to back of entry.
• Submit a typed explanation of patriotism expressed in art (250 words or less).

 

3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest:

 

What is the Scholarship Amount?

• The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $5,500.

What are the Scholarship Submission Requirements?

• Three-dimensional art can be paper, papier-mâché, pottery, clay, metal work, fabric, etc.
• Pieces should be no larger than 18” in any direction.
• Art cannot be more than 5 lbs. in weight.
• Complete entry form and submit with entry.
• Submit a typed explanation of steps taken to create three-dimensional art/artists statement (total of 250 words or less).

Digital art, photography, weapons, 3-D printed art and jewelry are NOT ACCEPTED for either contest.