Visual Arts Competitions for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 16 visual arts competitions for high school students. Of these, 11 are free to participate in and 10 offer virtual participation. Examples include All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF), Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest, and Congressional Art Competition.
- 16
- listed
- 11
- free
- 10
- virtual
- 16
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are visual arts competitions for high school students?
- Visual Arts Competitions for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in visual arts. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these competitions free?
- Yes — 11 of the 16 competitions listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 10 of the 16 competitions listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are visual arts competitions good for a college application?
- Yes — visual arts competitions are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in visual arts on college applications.
16 activities found·Browse by category
All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF)
The world's largest student film festival, where high school filmmakers submit short films for a chance to screen at an AMC theater in Times Square and compete for scholarships at an annual New York City awards weekend.
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest
International creative-expression competition inviting students ages 11-18 to explore ocean and climate issues through art, film, writing, or performance, with cash awards up to $1,000 in the Senior Division.
Congressional Art Competition
A nationwide U.S. House of Representatives art contest in which high schoolers submit work to their congressional district office, with winning pieces displayed for a year in the U.S. Capitol.
Congressional Art Competition (CA-04, "An Artistic Discovery")
High schoolers submit an original 2D artwork representing their congressional district; winner's art displays in the U.S. Capitol for a year and wins a DC trip.
Creative Youth Awards (Bay Area)
Large regional competition offering more than $100k in cash awards for youth across categories including visual art; open to Bay Area high school students.
Doodle for Google
An annual national art contest from Google where K-12 students design their own Google homepage doodle around a yearly theme, with finalists winning scholarships and a tech package for their school.
Dr. Jerry Hiura Next Gen Visual Artist Award
Visual art scholarship award for Santa Clara County high school students, honoring Dr. Jerry Hiura; awards include a $3,000 first prize and additional $1,000 prizes.
HSArts Art Competition
Visual art competition offering scholarships up to $3,000 for local youth artists; awards applied to HSArts tuition, young artist programs, or summer camps.
K12 Photography Competition
A free national photography competition open to all U.S. students in grades PreK-12 (no enrollment at a K12-powered school required), judged on creativity, technique, composition, and storytelling, with cash prizes awarded in four grade bands including 9-12.
National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY)
The largest youth film festival in the world, held annually in Seattle, screening and awarding short films made by filmmakers age 24 and under, with dedicated student and high-school-specific award categories.
National YoungArts Foundation National Arts Competition
A prestigious national competition for artists ages 15-18 across ten disciplines including visual arts, design, film, jazz, photography, classical music, theater, dance, and voice, with cash awards and mentorship for winners.
NUMU ArtNow – New Museum Los Gatos
Annual juried high school art exhibition inviting work from across Santa Clara County; selected works exhibited at the museum.
Olive Hyde Art Guild Scholarships
Scholarships for Fremont high school seniors and Ohlone College students pursuing visual arts; includes a $2,000 first prize and several additional awards.
SPOA + Sony Student Photo Contest
A free national photography contest for students in grades 6-12, run by School Photographers of America in partnership with Sony. Students submit original photos in categories like Action Shot, Candid Photo, and Detail Shot; winners receive cameras donated by Sony.
STUFFit Student Film Festival – Animation Category
A national student film festival with dedicated Senior and Junior Animation categories for high schoolers (ages 12-18); students submit an original animated short under 10 minutes made within the last 12 months for festival screening and judging.
Texas Photographic Society International Student Competition
An international student photography competition open to all current high school, middle, and elementary students, with six categories including Documentary/Photojournalism, Portraits, and Fine Art/Abstract. Winners receive a complimentary TPS student membership and recognition.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.