How do you think about your culture? Do you carry it wherever you go? How does it intersect with the cultures around you? How do you view yourself in a world that is interconnected, and how would you express this in art?
This yearâs competition is inspired by Pan-Africanism, a worldwide movement began as a call for self-determination and unity among peoples of African descent. Artists have long since played a key role in visualizing and circulating Pan-Africanist ideas centered in Black identity, global solidarity, and liberation. From amplifying the red, green, and black of the Pan-African flag to depicting Black lives and creatively redrawing the planet, Pan-Africanist artworks serve as inspirations for how we can reorient our world around equity and justice.
What story do you have to tell? What do hope, dignity, resistance, healing, identity, equality, and interconnectedness look like to you? As you think about what you might like to make, we encourage you to visit the many exhibitions and programs on Pan-Africanism taking place around this city this fall and to consider the following prompts created by the Art Instituteâs Teen Council:Â
How do you carry your culture wherever you go?
How does your culture connect and intersect with other cultures?
How do you celebrate your culture?
What does hope mean to you?
How do you resist?
How are we interconnected?
To enter, complete this entry form before 5:00 p.m. CST on Friday, December 6. All submitted artworks will be featured on the Art Instituteâs website. For additional information and submission guidelines, please see the menu below.
Need encouragement to submit your artwork? Take a look at the virtual gallery featuring works by teens that were submitted to last yearâs competition, My Chicagos.
Learn More
This competition is open to teens who live in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, are in grades 9 through 12, and are 13 to 19 years of age as of December 6, 2024.
Employees of the Art Institute of Chicago and members of their immediate families are not eligible to enter or win the competition.
Entries must be received before 5:00 p.m. CST on Friday, December 6, 2024.
Entries must be in one of the following mediums: photography, graphic design, digital poster design, digital collage.
Up to 3 artworks may be submitted per entry. Limit 1 entry per person.
All artwork must be submitted digitally and must be at least 8 x 10 inches (2400 x 3000 pixels).
All work submitted must be original to the submitter.
When naming an artwork file, please use the title of the artwork only. Do not include your name, school, or any other identifying information in the file name.
Winners will be announced on December 20, 2024, and celebrated with a reception on February 8, 2025.
A selection of submitted artworks will be printed and displayed in the Art Instituteâs McCormick Gallery beginning January 20, 2024.Â
Three entries will be selected for special prizes based on the theme of the competition.Â
To receive the names of the winners after December 20, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:
The Art Institute of Chicago c/o Ivonne Cruz 111 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60603
How do I enter the contest? Complete the entry form, upload your artwork(s), and select “Submit.”
How many artworks may I submit? You may submit up to 3 artworks with your entry.Â
How many times may I enter? You may enter only once.
What happens next? Each entry will be showcased on the Art Institute of Chicago’s website. Thirty artworks will be selected to be printed and displayed at the McCormick Foundation Gallery, location in the museum’s Ryan Learning Center. An additional three entries will be selected for other prizes. When will the winners be announced? Winners will be selected, notified, and announced on December 20, 2024.
Do I need to print my artwork? No; you only need to submit a digital image file. What size/resolution should my artwork(s) be?
All submissions must be at least 8 x 10 inches (2400 x 3000 pixels).
What is a pixel? A pixel (or picture element) is the smallest item of visual information in an image.Â
Is it okay if I take pictures with my phone instead of a camera? Yes, you can submit work taken on a phone. Just make sure your camera settings are adjusted to take high-resolution images.