What's your dream? What comes to mind when you think of dreams? Does it come from the past, the present, or the future? Is it a dream that creeps up on you late at night, a wishful daydream that leads you roaming around the world, or a big dream to chase after and come true? We hope that you can use your endless imagination to visualize your dream.

Eligibility
1st to 12th grade student in the U.S. or equivalent grade student worldwide

Grade Categories
Lower grade students born after December 31, 2010
Upper grade students born on or before December 31, 2010

Medium and Size
Lower group: watercolors, pastels, and crayons on paper
Upper group: oil or acrylic on canvas
Maximum size is 24 by 36 inches

Artist Statement
The artist statement communicates how it relates to the theme. No more than 100 words. Type the statement on the Registration Form.

Registration and Online Submission

  • One entry per student

  • Save your artwork as a jpg image file (not exceeding 2MB) and name the file with: [student last name]_[school]_grade.jpg, Example: Sun_RMHS_9.jpg

  • Submit the registration form and the artwork from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, 2023 to ArtCompetition@chineseamericanmuseum.org

  • Entries submitted after the deadline Dec. 15, 2023 will not be accepted


Judging Criteria
The Judging Committee will review the submissions based on the following criteria:

  • Interpretation of the theme

  • Technical skill

  • Originality, all artwork must be original ideas and created entirely by the student; any artwork that depicts copyrighted images will be rejected. No artwork depicting characters from TV shows, movies, video games, or books will be accepted.

Judging and Winners
Each Best-in-Show winner in the upper grade will receive a certificate and scholarship award of $1,000, 700 and 400; each Best-in-show winner in lower grade will receive a certificate and scholarship award of $800, 500 and 200; each Honorable Mention winner in upper grade will receive a certificate and award of $100; each Honorable Mention winner in lower grade will receive a certificate and award of $50. Each Merit winner in upper grade and lower grade will receive a certificate.

Winners' artwork will be displayed at the Chinese American Museum DC during Spring 2024.

Notification of Winners and Displaying Requirements
Winners will be notified by email on or before January 31, 2024.
Display requirements will be sent to the winners.