Competition Overview
ArtDash Junior is a student art competition created especially for young artists in K–5th grade. We believe children create their most meaningful artwork when they are free to explore ideas that inspire them. That’s why ArtDash Junior does not assign a theme—every child is invited to create original artwork based on their own interests, stories, and imagination.
This program focuses on encouragement, recognition, and age-appropriate artistic development, rather than pressure or comparison to adult standards.
What Makes ArtDash Jr. Different
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No assigned theme — children are free to create what inspires them
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Age-appropriate review — artwork is considered within each age group
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Focus on creativity and effort — not perfection or technical skill
How It Works
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Create any original drawing or painting (No theme required)
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Submit artwork online
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Artwork is thoughtfully reviewed using age-appropriate criteria
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Selected works are recognized and showcased
Art— Jr. 2026 Important Deadlines
Call for Submission — January 1st, 2026
Submission Deadline — April 28th, 2026
Winners Announced — May 15th, 2026
Official Rules
*Important Information
Eligibility
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The ArtDash Junior 2025 competition is open to young artists worldwide. Participants may submit artwork created in either traditional or digital media.
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Entries will be judged within the following grade groups:
Group A: Kindergarten – 1st Grade
Group B: 2nd – 3rd Grade
Group C: 4th – 5th Grade
Originality & Copyright
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All entries must be the participant’s own original work.
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Plagiarism, copying, or use of AI-generated content is strictly prohibited.
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Works must not infringe on any third-party copyrights or intellectual property.
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Collaborative works are not allowed; each piece must be created independently.
Deadline
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The call for submissions for the 2025 ArtDash Junior competition opens on August 1st, 2025, and the deadline to submit your artwork is November 30th, 2025; late submissions will not be accepted. Winners will be announced on January 5th, 2026.
Artwork Requirements
Participants may submit artwork in traditional or digital media. Students may submit multiple entries, but only one artwork per participant will be eligible for awards. All artworks must be entirely original and hand-created by the student.
Traditional Media:
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Pencil, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic, oil pastel, ink, collage, and mixed media are allowed.
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Artwork should be flat and unframed, and paper size should not exceed 18 x 24 inches.
Digital Media:
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Only digital artwork created using professional drawing software is permitted (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, or similar programs).
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Digital artworks must be entirely drawn by the participant; scanning traditional art or combining digital and traditional methods is not allowed.
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Not allowed: photographs, photo manipulations, tracing, AI-generated images, 3D models, or use of copyrighted characters.
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Artwork files must be high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) and submitted as JPEG or PNG.
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Judges may request proof of the creative process (e.g., layer files, progress screenshots) if AI or other prohibited techniques are suspected. Failure to provide proof may result in disqualification.
Additional Notes:
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Digital artwork may include text, but it should not be for commercial purposes.
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All entries must be suitable for a general audience.
Prizes and Certificates
Special thanks to artist Haruka Sato for creating our contest illustration.
