Student Qualifications

• Must be a current high school or home school student (grades 9-12).
• Student must be able to drop off artwork at the Bruce if it is selected for in-person judging in April 2026. Student must also be able to pick up their artwork at the end of judging or, if selected, at the end of the exhibition. The Museum will not pick up or return any artwork.
• Students who are working as high school interns on the iCreate exhibition may not submit artwork.

Artwork Criteria

Entries are limited to two-dimensional original works in oil, watercolor, acrylic, tempera, gouache, pastel, any drawing medium, traditional printmaking forms (such as relief, etching, stone lithograph, and serigraph), mixed media, photography, and works generated digitally by computer.

Three-dimensional work and any pieces created with the use of generative artificial intelligence tools and features at any stage of the creative process are strictly prohibited.

Entries should be no more than 20 inches by 28 inches (unframed) and no more than 4 inches in depth.

Each student is limited to one artwork submission.

Submission Process

All submissions must be entered digitally via this link: https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=16704. (Click on the “Apply Now” button to submit.)

The deadline is Monday, April 6, 2026.

Students must submit the following information through the portal to be considered:

• Student information, such as name, age, school, grade, address, and contact information
• A participation consent form signed by a parent or guardian for all participants under the age of 18 at the time of submission
• Teacher contact information (if applicable)
• Artwork information, such as title, medium, size, readiness for hanging
• One image of the artwork; image files must be JPEG or JPG only, 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side, no larger than 5 MB, and have a color profile of sRGB
  • We ask that artists think carefully about lighting, angle, and clarity when selecting the images for their submission.
• All artists must affirm that they did not create their work with the use of generative artificial intelligence tools and features at any stage of the creative process, that the work was done by them, and that the digital images accurately represent the work.
• Artist statement: all students must include a brief statement (150 words max) about the submitted artwork; this statement will be used as the object label if it is selected for the exhibition.

Schedule

March 2–April 6, 2026: Digital portal open for submissions

April 6–17, 2026: First round of judging digital submissions

April 20–May 1, 2026: Students informed if artwork is selected for in-person judging; students must drop off artwork at Museum during this time

May 4–15, 2026: In-person judging by a select committee of Museum staff, supporters, and art professionals

May 18–22, 2026: Students informed of final decision; artwork not selected for exhibition must be picked up at Museum

June 13, 2026: Exhibition opens to the public with celebration

August 24, 2026: Exhibition closes to the public

August 25-28, 2026: Artwork pickup at the Museum

Awards

Cash prizes will be awarded in the following amounts: 1st: $500, 2nd: $300, 3rd: $200, and three Honorable Mentions: $100. People’s Choice Award: $350 will be awarded in late August, allowing the public to vote online and in person for their favorite art submission.

Awards will be presented by the high school interns curating the exhibition at the opening reception on Saturday, June 13, 2026 (Date TBC).

Questions?

Please reach out to the Bruce staff at education@brucemuseum.org

Leadership support for iCreate is provided by The David T. Langrock Foundation.

Matthew Carrea
Rolling Meadows
Oil on canvas
24 x 36 in.