2024 Student Art Contest

The Kentucky Climate Consortium is holding a Student Art Contest in conjunction with the 1st annual Kentucky Climate Symposium on September 26, 2024. The contest is open-submission and is divided into four submission categories: 

1. 2D Art: two-dimensional pieces such as drawings, paintings, collage, printmaking, and more.
2. 3D Art: three-dimensional pieces such as sculptures, ceramics, textiles, fiber arts, and more.
3. Photography: a photograph captured by analog or digital camera, smart phone, or another device.
4. Open: any art piece that does not fit into the previous three categories such as written word, video, music, choreography, and more—please do not feel limited to these examples!

Submissions will only be accepted from undergraduate or graduate students, 18 years or older, who are currently enrolled at least part-time at a public or private college or university in Kentucky.

The submission window will open on March 25, 2024, and close on July 7, 2024.

Link to Submission Portal will be available here on March 25, 2024.

What does climate change in Kentucky feel like to you? 

How has climate change impacted you and those around you? 

How are Kentuckians rising to the challenge of climate change?

1. Each submission must have been created by the student submitting it.
2. Each student may submit up to two pieces. For multiple submissions, the pieces must be in different submission categories.
3. AI-generated and AI-assisted art are prohibited from submission. Submitting AI art will disqualify the student from the competition.
4. Artwork will be submitted as digital files via the KYCC website.
   • 2D, photography, and other print pieces may be submitted as an image file (png preferred) or pdf.
   • 3D pieces may be submitted as a collection of images or video.
   • Choreography or music pieces may be submitted as an audio or video file (mp4 preferred).
   • Other art forms may be submitted as the most appropriate file type for the medium.
5. Video submissions are limited to no more than 15 minutes in length.
6. Submission of artwork grants the Kentucky Climate Consortium permission to display work with full artist credit at the Kentucky Climate Symposium on September 26, 2024.
7. Submissions must correlate with the contest prompt. Submissions that are unrelated to the prompt will be disqualified.
8. Each submission must include a one-paragraph artist’s statement articulating relevance to the prompt, with particular attention to the following questions: 
   • How did you interpret the contest prompt? 
   • How does your piece fit into the prompt?

The judging committee, or jury, will consist of professionals and specialists in a variety of relevant mediums. Contest judging will take place after the submission deadline.

One winner and one runner-up will be chosen from each submission category.

• Winners and runners-up will all receive monetary prizes.
  • The four winners will each receive a $200 prize.
  • The four runners-up will each receive a $100 prize.
• The four winners will be invited to speak at an interview-style session during the Symposium.

All student artists are invited to attend the Kentucky Climate Symposium on September 26, 2024. 

Transportation, lodging, and meals will be provided for winners and runners-up traveling from outside Fayette County.

For help determining which category your piece falls into, or to answer any questions you may have, please contact Gail Wallace at acwa260@uky.edu.