Blend In Stand Out 2026
The Contest
Everything you need to know to submit your art and be part of something real.
Key Dates
Mark your calendar.
The portal opens. Start submitting your work.
All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET.
Our panel of judges reviews all submissions.
Winners and featured artists announced publicly.
Who Can Enter
- Students currently enrolled in grades 6–12
- Open to students in the United States
- You do not need to be mixed race to enter. The theme is about identity, belonging, and the in-between experience. Anyone who connects with that is welcome
- You may submit one piece of original artwork per person
- All work must be original and created by the submitting student
- Entry is completely free
What to Submit
- Any visual art medium is welcome: painting, drawing, digital art, photography, mixed media, printmaking, collage
- Upload a high-quality digital image of your work (.jpg, .jpeg, .png), minimum 1000px on the shortest side
- Include a title and a short artist statement (100–300 words) explaining what your piece means to you
- Artwork must be appropriate for a general audience: no graphic violence, explicit content, or hate imagery
- Work previously submitted to other contests is eligible
What Happens After You Submit
- You'll receive a confirmation email when your submission is received
- All submissions are reviewed by our judging panel after the June 1 deadline
- Selected submissions may be featured in our public gallery (with your permission)
- Winners and featured artists will be contacted by email before the public announcement
- Winning and featured artwork will be displayed on blendinstandout.org and our social media channels
Rights & Permissions
- You keep full ownership of your artwork at all times
- By submitting, you grant Blend In Stand Out a non-exclusive license to display your work on the website, social media, and any contest-related materials
- We will always credit you as the artist
- Parent or guardian permission is required for all entrants under 18
How We Judge
What we're looking for.
Judges evaluate each submission on three criteria. There's no single "correct" interpretation of the theme. What matters most is that your work is genuine.
Artistic Quality
Craft, technique, and visual impact. Does the piece demonstrate skill and intention in its execution?
Connection to Theme
How thoughtfully does the artwork engage with the multicultural experience?
Artist Statement
Is the statement clear, personal, and genuine? It doesn't need to be formal, just honest.
Questions
Frequently asked.
No. The theme is about navigating multiple cultural identities, and that's something many students relate to. If the theme speaks to you and your art reflects it genuinely, you're welcome to submit.
Each student may submit one piece of artwork per person for the 2026 contest.
No. All submissions are digital. If you're submitting a painting, drawing, or sculpture, just take a high-quality photo of it and upload the image. Make sure the lighting is good and the full piece is in frame.
You keep full ownership of your work. By submitting, you give Blend In Stand Out permission to display it on our website and social media, always with your name credited. We will not sell or commercially license your work.
Judges will also select a number of "Featured Artist" submissions to be highlighted publicly, so there are multiple ways to be recognized. All participating students will receive a digital certificate of participation.
No. Blend In Stand Out is completely free to enter.
Email us at blendinstandout.art@gmail.com and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.