American Heroes Student Art Contest

Submission Deadline: NOW CLOSED

Eligibility: Any student in grades 3–12 who is a legal resident of any of the 50 states or 6 U.S. territories is eligible to enter.

Submission Requirements: Participating students should create and submit an original, handmade two-dimensional artwork and a 200-word artist statement (100 words for elementary students). Use the steps outlined in the section below.

Submission Categories: Upper Elementary School Students (Grades 3-5); Middle School Students (Grades 6-8); High School Students (Grades 9-12).

Judging Criteria: A panel of artists and educators will evaluate submissions based on age-level artistic excellence and technical skill, creativity and innovation, relevance to the submission requirements, and clarity and meaning of the artist statement.

Awards: Up to 168 first-place awardees (up to 1 student from each age group category representing 56 each state and territory) and their designated parent/guardian will receive a travel and lodging allowance to travel to Washington, D.C., July 7-9, 2026, to attend a Student Art Exhibition and Award Ceremony at the Great American State Fair, recognizing state, regional, and overall winners. Award recipients will be notified in early June 2026.

The American Heroes Student Art Contest is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Freedom 250 and NEH invite youth across America to celebrate the nation’s 250th Birthday through original artwork and essays, inspired by a favorite historical American hero - the statesmen, athletes, scholars, artists, musicians, scientists, entrepreneurs, and more - to be honored in statues in the forthcoming National Garden of American Heroes. Seize the moment by standing on the shoulders of great American leaders and artists of the past and create a new expression of American art and patriotism today!

For more information about the American Heroes Student Art Contest, including official contest rules, judging criteria, submission requirements, please refer to the ArtCall Submission Platform.