ArtEffect Visual Arts Competition

The Unsung Heroes ARTEFFECT Competition invites submissions from all middle and high school students interested in making a positive impact through their art.

First awarded in 2016, hundreds of students have participated in ARTEFFECT in the U.S. and around the globe. The Competition is focused on creatively interpreting the story of an Unsung Hero from history in a visual artwork. The untold stories of Unsung Heroes are uncovered through in-depth research and project-based learning facilitated by the Lowell Milken Center’s Discovery Award Competition. The judging panel will give the most consideration to entries that celebrate the Unsung Hero’s contribution in a high-quality artwork that is visually compelling and original in concept.

Students may interpret the Unsung Hero’s story in myriad ways including— but not limited to—a narrative sequence or story, portraiture, symbols and abstraction, a landscape. Multiple mediums are accepted for submission including 2-D and 3-D visual artworks in painting, drawing, mixed media, digital, and sculpture.

Students will also submit a written “Impact Statement” to accompany their artwork. This essay discusses the Unsung Hero’s unique contribution, the student’s creative process and interpretation, and how the student intends to share their artwork within their own community.

The Competition awards over $16,000 to young artists who create exceptional projects about diverse Unsung Heroes who changed the course of history.

All students in grades 6-12 are invited to enter. With over $16,000 of awards available, including a $6,000 grand prize and multiple prize categories, ArtEffect presents a meaningful opportunity for aspiring artists, scientists, historians, and all other students who want to explore their field of interest through a creative lens. Completing an entry for the ArtEffect competition is completely free, and it’s the perfect opportunity for students to demonstrate their commitment to creative growth, interdisciplinary learning, and social impact.

ArtEffect is open to all U.S. and international middle and high school students. Projects must be entirely student-produced.

Top Prizes

Grand Prize—$6,000

Spotlight Prize—$1,000

High School (9-12th grade)

Best in Show– $3,000
Second Place–$2,000

Middle School (6-8th grade)

Best in Show–$2,000
Second Place–$1,000

Visual Art Mediums

Multiple mediums are acceptable for submission including:

2-D dry media such as graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, pastels.
2-D wet media such as acrylic, oil, watercolor, gouache, ink wash, printmaking.
2-D digital media
Various mixed media such as photography, digital, graphics, textiles, collage, paper.
3-D media such as sculpture, ceramic, assemblage.

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

Impact Statement

All submissions must be accompanied by an Impact Statement (minimum of 500 words to a maximum of 1,000 words). In this essay, students should address the following prompts:

What do you find inspirational about your chosen Unsung Hero and why?
How does your work express your Unsung Hero’s character and heroic acts?
What is the vision behind your creative interpretation?
How has the process of creating this work of art changed your outlook on life?
How will you share your artwork and/or experience with your community? Include any photos and weblinks, as relevant, to illustrate the extended reach of your project.

To see the suggested Impact Paper Structure, click here.

Submitting

To enter the ARTEFFECT 2023 Competition, students must submit the following materials no later than the deadline of May 1, 2024, 11:59pm PT:

A fully completed online application
Images of their artworks
An Impact Statement.

Late submissions are not accepted. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools by students is prohibited at any stage of the creative process for artworks and impact statements.