The City of Long Beach, in partnership with the Arts Council for Long Beach, is holding its annual Youth Art Contest, a competition designed to inspire young residents from the first through eighth grades to capture their view of the city through artwork and photography.
The application period for this contest will close on Feb. 28, 2025. After submissions are reviewed by a panel in March, selected awardees will be notified and recognized at a Long Beach City Council meeting in April.
Young artists may submit their work in a variety of mediums, but only two-dimensional work will be accepted. Accepted art forms include paintings (such as oil, acrylics and watercolor), as well as drawings done in pastels, colored pencils, charcoal, ink and markers. Charcoal and pastel pieces should have a sealant applied to them.
Collages are welcome as long as they are 2D, along with prints like lithographs, silkscreen and block prints. Mixed media creations, which combine two or more mediums, are also accepted, as well as photographs and digital art.
AI-generated artwork will not be accepted.
Submissions should be between 8.5×11 inches and 36×36 inches, formatted as PNG or JPG files. Entries must also adhere to contest guidelines, avoiding any content that includes obscenity, explicit material, violence or copyrighted material.
Art submitted to the contest will be judged on the following four criteria, totaling 40 points:
- Interpretation of Theme (10 points): Artwork should reflect the beauty and unique aspects of Long Beach and its neighborhoods.
- Creativity (10 points): Original perspectives and thoughtful integration of the theme.
- Connection to Long Beach (10 points): Description should demonstrate a personal connection to Long Beach.
- Technical Skills (10 points): Effective use of line, form, value and perspective.
Eligibility is limited to kids living in Long Beach, with finalists required to provide proof of residence.
To apply, visit the Arts Council for Long Beach’s website.
