17th Annual Teen Art Contest

17th Annual Teen Art Contest

Date Published: December 01, 2023

Our theme for this year's Teen Art Contest is Balance.

Balance can be a physical skill or how we approach all the demands of our life. Can you balance on a tight rope or balance beam? Maybe you balance on a skateboard or ski board. Balance could be how you handle all the different responsibilities in your life - including your own needs and wants with school, family, and friends. Create a piece inspired by the theme that shares your thoughts on Balance or expresses what Balance means to you and enter it to win a prize!

Entries are judged by other teens, along with one award that is judged by Library staff. 

Important Dates

  • Sign up online between Thu., Dec. 1 – Tues., Feb. 13
  • Drop off your artwork from Fri., Feb. 9 – Tue., Feb. 13
  • Awards Ceremony on Tues., March 19th, at 6 p.m. at East Library Community Room
  • Art on display throughout April
  • Art pick up the first week of May

How to enter

Make sure you qualify:

  • Must be ages 12 - 19 at time of submission.
  • Must be an El Paso County resident.

Create your art following these guidelines:

  • Create something that is a 2D form of art!
    • Artwork can be any type of two-dimensional art form, as long as we can safely hang it on the wall.
      • Including but not limited to: Photography, Digital Art, Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media/Collage, prints, crochet, etc.
      • There are no formal size requirements, but it needs to be something we can hang on the wall and also transport in a regular passenger car.

Prepare your art:

  • We highly recommend mattes or foamboard for artwork on paper. This helps protect it during transportation and helps with hanging.
    • Submitting art plain or in a frame is fine, just not preferred.
    • Pieces on canvas don’t need additional protection.
  • Your submission should be able to support being hung in our galley hanging wire system.
    • Ideally this means there is a hanging wire or a spot we can attach a hanging wire to.
    • There are several free or low-cost ways to attach a hook or D-Ring.
    • PPLD will supply hanging wire and attach hooks upon receiving submissions if needed.

Complete the entry forms:

Drop off your submission:

Other Entry guidelines:

  • Only one entry per person
  • Library Staff reserve the right to decline inappropriate entries

Award Categories

Award categories include: 

  • One overall Best in Show
  • Middle School Division: First Place, Second Place, and Coordinator's Choice
  • High School Division: First Place, Second Place, and Coordinator's Choice for High School

Winning participants will be notified via letter in mid-March, with specific awards announced at the awards ceremony on Tues., March 19th, at 6 p.m. at East Library. All entries accepted into the show will be on display in April at East Library, Penrose Library, or Library 21c.

FAQs

  • Can I submit a photograph/digital art/other type of 2D art?
    Any type of 2D art piece is accepted as long as we can hang it on the wall and it can be transported between libraries. We’ve had digital pieces, photography, crochet, painting, drawing, photographs of sculptures, collage, charcoal, and more!
     
  • Do you have size requirements for pieces?
    Nothing formal – we have to be able to transport pieces between libraries, so the upper limit on size is something that will fit in a vehicle and will be able to be hung up on a wall.
     
  • When will I know if I have won?
    We will notify award winners by mid-March. All participants and their friends and family are invited to the Awards Ceremony on Tue., March 19 at 6 p.m. in the East Library Community Room regardless of winning an award.
     
  • Will my artwork be displayed?
    Yes! You can choose from one of three locations to have your artwork displayed during the month of April. Locations are Penrose Library, East Library, or Library 21c.
     
  • When and where can I pick up my artwork?
    The first week of May at the library you selected to have it displayed. An email will be sent in April with specific details.
     
  • What are the prizes?
    We award prizes for Coordinator’s Choice, First place, and Second place for the high school and middle school age groups. We also award a prize for Best in Show, which is the piece that received the highest score out of both the middle and high school categories. In the past, winners received a drawing mannequin and gift card to Meininger’s Art Supply store.
     
  • What can I do to improve my chances of winning?
    Work with the theme—It doesn’t have to be a literal interpretation, but we do look for pieces that have been inspired by the theme in some way. Your paragraph describing your piece can have a big impact on this.

    Stand out! Whether through subject matter or having an unusual take on the theme, we notice unique entries more. For example, we tend to get a lot of close-ups on eyes, so they tend to not stand out as much.

    Have fun! Don’t view it as an assignment or chore. We can tell when someone submits a piece they are passionate about – so do something that you love!
     
  • Do I have to have a matte?
    No, but we highly encourage it. Pieces are not judged on having a matte or not, but mattes help protect your artwork during storage and transportation and make it easier to hang your piece. Frames are also accepted, but mattes are preferred.
     
  • I'm a teacher with an amazing class, can I enter them?
    Yes! If you are a teacher who would like to enter a class of students, you can fill out the Excel Spreadsheet linked here to complete one entry form for all of your students. You will be responsible for communicating with participants about the award ceremony and art pick-up.
     
  • My question wasn’t answered here.
    Email Becca at rphilipsen@ppld.org