Children's Art Competitions In The UK 2022 | MoMa UK

Our pick of the best UK Art Competitions for kids and young people in 2025. Open to children of various ages up to eighteen…

Most of our UK Art Competitions are for artists eighteen and over so I’m excited to start an alternative version for children and youths. Get in touch if you know of any more UK art contests for juniors and I’ll add the best ones here.

Winning Mickey Mouse comic’s weekly competition with my cartoon of Goofy at the Olypmics was as big a thrill as a creative kid could get. I hope this list leads to similar creative landmarks, good luck everyone!

RI Coronation Award

An exciting award for UK school students aged 11-18 year olds working in watercolour and water based media.

Close:	22nd December 2025 enter now!
Prize:	1st Prize: £100 2 Runners Up Prizes: £50 (worth of art materials) Winning School Bursary: £800 (worth of art materials)
Rules:	Water-based media including watercolour, ink, gouache, and acrylic on paper. Email [email protected] for full details.
Ages:	UK school students aged 11-18.
Site:	Enter here

ootiboo All Star

ootiboo are teaming up with children’s mental health organisation SparkUK to help raise awareness of their All Star Advent calendar in the lead up to Christmas.

Close:	24th December 2025enter now!
Prize:	Farshore £50 Book Bundles (two £50 book bundles donated by Farshore, tailored to the age of the winners) £50 Global GoGift Card (one winner will receive a £50 Global GoGift Card) T-Shirt (Spark UK – Be kind to your mind T-shirt) Dressing Table (Dressing table from Bigjigs Toys) Crayon Name Set (The Natural Crayon Company will handpour your name in a crayon set) Chocolate lollies (set of 10 Kinnerton chocolate lollies) Sneakers (a pair of Dubs sneakers) Stacking rainbow (wooden stacking rainbow from Bigjigs Toys) Mug (Spark UK – Chatty Pigeon Xmas mug)
Rules:	Use your imagination to come up with either a fabulous star, or something based on the prompt ‘Speak your joy’. Use any materials or medium you like! You could bake some star cookies, paint or draw a design, make a model, dress up as a star, even dress your pet as a star…. The possibilities are endless! ootiboo have also created some colouring templates for younger kids and anyone else!
Ages:	Ages 4+, worldwide.
Site:	Enter Here

International Kids’ Owl Art Contest

Over 2,000 entries from dozens of countries apply each year to be part of the International Festival of Owls exhibition in Houston, Minnesota.

Close:	15th January 2026enter now!
Prize:	Award certificate & group exhibition – 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each age category will be mailed a framed, customized and signed award certificate with a custom wax seal. Selected artwork will be placed on special exhibit in museums and galleries or used to make T-shirts, cards, or other items.
Rules:	Entries must be an image of an owl. Artwork must be two-dimensional, on any size paper that can be mailed and hung on a wall with tape. Digital artwork is allowed if printed, labeled, and mailed as required for other entries. No AI may be used for digital artwork entries. No frames or mattes may be used on the artwork.
Ages:	Categories: 0-5, 6-9, 10-14, 15-18, worldwide
Site:	Enter Here

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Global Canvas – Children’s Wildlife Art Competition

Annual group art contest for children aged 16 and under encouraging collaboration and creativity around wildlife and the environment.

Close:	19th February 2026 enter now!
Prize:	This years prizes to be announced, previous prizes: 1st Prize: £500 (art vouchers) 2nd Prize: £200 (art vouchers) 3rd Prize: £100 (art vouchers)
Rules:	Any art techniques can be used to create entries; including painting, sculpture, textiles, collages and we always like to see recycled materials. 2026 Theme: The Book of Life! “Show us how we can save the Book of Life forever.” Winners announced: Live final, 1st May, 2026.
Ages:	Ages categories: 4-7, 8-11, 12-16 (from any country)
Site:	Enter here

Never Such Innocence Art Competition

Worldwide competition for 9-18 year olds to reflect on the realities of war and create an artwork on the theme ‘In Someone Else’s Shoes’.

Close:	27th February 2026 enter now!
Prize:	Various prizes – Prizes will be announced later in the competition but will include some exciting experiences.
Rules:	Theme: ‘In Someone Else’s Shoes’. This year’s theme challenges participants to explore empathy, identity, and experience through their original creative work. Whether imagining life from another person’s point of view or reflecting on real-world stories of war and conflict. Art can be produced in any medium. View the winners booklet from the previous competition.
Ages:	9-11, 11-14, 14-16, 16-18 from around the world.
Site:	Enter here

Currently Closed

Space Foundation Art Contest

The Annual Space Foundation International Student Art Contest opens in January for registration and artwork submissions.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Art Kit, Ribbon, Certificate, Astronaut Autograph – Winning artwork will be displayed on Space Foundation website and at Space Foundation Headquarters and Discovery Center. It also will be viewed by space professionals from around the world during the 37th Space Symposium, April 4-7, 2022, at The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. Winners will be announced on March 14th, 2022.
Rules:	Create an original, space-oriented artwork (drawing, painting, mixed media or digital) based on the theme: “Living, Working And Playing On The Moon”.
Ages:	Eight age groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 (UK & International)
Site:	Enter here

Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

Global competition inviting children 15 and under to let their imagination run wild and design their dream car of the future.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize: Apple iPad The top three best artworks will be selected in each category in the UK contest, with the Gold winner receiving an Apple iPad, Silver and Bronze winners receiving a Samsung tablet and all winners receiving a Toyota goody bag. UK winners will be announced in February 2023. All UK bronze, silver, and gold winners will be put forward to the World Contest, in which a grand prize winner from each category and two special award winners will be selected. Each winner will receive $5,000 to spend on educational resources and supplementary prizes of $10,000 will also be awarded to their school or college. Finalists in the global competition will also receive $3,000 intended to be used for educational purposes. Global winners announced Winter 2023.
Rules:	Flying cars, zero emission hoverboards, space buggies for moons and planets… who knows what the future of mobility will look like? Toyota are inviting children across the UK to share their wildest, most imaginative car design. Acceptable media includes computer generated pictures made using a pc, tablet or phone, as well as scanned in or photographed images of your handmade artworks.
Ages:	Category 1: Under 8s. Category 2: 8-11. Category 3: 12-15. (UK only)
Site:	Enter here

Flair Open Art Prize

Invites 13-16 year olds to present a piece of artwork along the theme of ‘Identity’ exploring ‘Who am I?’ and ‘This is Me.’

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Win a Macbook Pro! – The winner will receive a Apple Macbook Pro.
Rules:	Present a piece of artwork along the theme of ‘Identity’ exploring ‘Who am I?’ and ‘This is Me.’ We are asking entrants to use their art to express themselves. Artworks can be made of any materials; anything from a painting, sculpture, photograph or installation. Submit a photograph of your artwork and a short written statement explaining why you have created your work and what it means to you.
Ages:	13-16 year olds, UK based
Site:	Enter here

International Comic/Manga School Contest

Manga, comic, and illustration contest open to students worldwide. Winners are eligible for cash prizes, creative software & pen tablets

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Manga/Comic Grand Prize: $3,300 (and Wacom Cintiq Pro 16, view on Amazon. Comic / Manga / Bande Dessinée / Webtoon Categories) Manga/Comic Category Awards: $1,700 (and Wacom One Creative Pen Display, view on Amazon) Storyboard Grand Prize: $2,200 (and Wacom One Creative Pen Display, view on Amazon) Illustration Grand Prize: $550 (and Wacom One Creative Pen Display, view on Amazon)
Rules:	The theme for all categories is “Journey”. Entries will be accepted for the following six categories: Comic, Manga, Bande Dessinée, Webtoon, Storyboard & Illustration. Submissions may be created using any drawing tools or software. If you create your submission using traditional tools, please submit a digital scan of the artwork. (Paper submissions will not be accepted)
Ages:	No age range specified. Applicants must be students aiming to debut as a creative professional, for example, as a manga artist or illustrator, at the time of application. A teacher or member of school staff must register by 3rd April 2023 on behalf of the school or program in order for students to be eligible.
Site:	Enter Here

Young Landscape Photographer Of The Year

Youth competition to celebrate the magic and wonder of the British landscape and showcase the work of talented photographers under 18.

Close:	TBAcurrently closed
Prize:	1st Prize: £1,000 – The winner will be awarded £1,000, a place in the touring exhibition and their image printed as part of the Collection 16 book.
Rules:	There are five categories to enter, with prizes for each category: Classic View, Cityscapes, Expressions/Impressions of the Landscape, Coast, Intimate View (Macro or Details)
Ages:	You must be 18 or under on the 31 May 2023 (UK & International)
Site:	Enter here

BioArtAttack 2D Competition

A new drawing and painting competition for children aged 7-18 years old to draw or paint their favourite animal, plant or fungi.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Global Winners: £50 UK Winners: £50 Nancy Rothwell Prizes: £50 (for a named specimen drawing) Global Runner-Ups: £20
Rules:	Draw or paint your favourite animal, plant or fungi. The Nancy Rothwell Prize is now a sub-category for specimen drawings entered into this competition.
Ages:	There are three age categories: 7-11, 12-14, and 15-18. UK & International.
Site:	Enter Here

World Animal Day Mug Competition

Be part of something special and have the chance of getting your design on World Animal Day 2023 commemorative mugs.

Close:	TBAcurrently closed
Prize:	See Your design on World Animal Day Mugs! – The winning entry will have their design printed on commemorative 2023 mugs and receive a free one to treasure. Runners-up from each age group will receive a copy of a wildlfe mindfulness colouring book.
Rules:	Using your pencils, felt tips or anything else you fancy – get creative! Create your design using the PDF template provided here using as many colours as you want, the only requirement is that your design is animal related. Send your creation [email protected] or post to Naturewatch Foundation, 49 Rodney Road, Cheltenham GL50 1HX.
Ages:	Age groups: 5-10, 11-16, 17+
Site:	Enter here

International Children’s Painting Competition

The third edition gives children age 4–16 the chance to win a 5 night family trip to visit major tourist destinations in Kerala, India.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Win a Trip to Kerala from any Part of the World! – 10 winners from across the globe, outside of India, will win a five-day family trip to Kerala. Two members can accompany the winner for the trip.
Rules:	The theme of the competition is Kerala village life! The painting can be anything related to villages of Kerala. View the photo gallery or video of village life of Kerala for inspiration. Here’s a 2 minute video tutorial on how to enter. The participant is expected to paint a picture manually on paper using crayons, color pencils or paint and brush or sketch pens. Any picture generated with digital, electronic or mechanical tools will not be accepted. The picture should then be digitized by any mode and uploaded to the Kerala Tourism contest page (file size cannot exceed 5 MB. The painting dimension should be minimum A4 size.
Ages:	4 – 16 years old, UK & International (born on/after 1/1/2007 and on/before 1/1/2019)
Site:	Enter Here

Commercial Crew Artwork Contest

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program’s annual artwork contest to help star-seeking children get engaged with the excitement of space exploration.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Your Artwork in a NASA Calendar – Winning artwork will be selected from three age groups in each theme, and first, second, and third place selections will be used to create an out-of-this-world calendar for 2024!
Rules:	Children ages four to 12 years old can submit artwork in four space-related themes: Rockets and Spacecraft, Living and Working in Space, Exploring the Solar System, Astronauts. There is no prescribed artwork form that needs to be used. Types of original artwork can include two-dimensional, sculpture, collage, or digital. However, AI-generated content will not be accepted. Artwork must be original. Participants will take a photo/scan of their artwork suitable for the equivalent of an 8 x 10-inch (20.32 x 25.4cm) artwork. All photos must be horizontal/landscape orientation.
Ages:	Age groups: 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 (UK & International).
Site:	Enter here

Young Amateur Photographer of the Year

Free competition open to young photographers aged 13-21 comprising 10 rounds of different photography categories to enter.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Overall Winner: £500 (worth of vouchers to spend at MPB) Category Winners: £250 (worth of vouchers to spend at MPB)
Rules:	10 monthly rounds to enter throughout 2023. Your best-placed image in each round will count towards your Amateur Photographer of the Year 2023 ranking. View the Young APOS Leaderboard for current standings.
Ages:	UK residents aged 13-21 years.
Site:	Enter here

Big Issue Christmas Kids Cover Competition

Big Issue are on the lookout for bright, bold, eye-grabbing art that will catch the attention of passers-by and help their vendors sell lots of copies.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize – Your design on the cover of Big Issue! have a go at designing a Big Issue cover that will appear on the front of one of Big Issue’s Christmas magazines.
Rules:	Submit your designs to be on the cover of The Big Issue this Christmas. This year’s theme is WELCOME, and entrants are asked to think about what that word means to them and what it represents, during the festive period and beyond. Big Issue are on the lookout for bright, bold, eye-grabbing art that will catch the attention of passers-by and help their vendors sell lots of copies. Artwork can be drawn with pencils or pens, paints, creative collages or designed on a computer or tablet.
Ages:	Anyone aged 13 or under.
Site:	Enter here

Jeffrey Ahn, Jr. Fellowship

Fellowship that seeks to empower young artists (up to age 17) from any background or country to realise extraordinary independent projects.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Up to $10,000 for young artists up to age 17 to produce ambitious creative projects
Rules:	Phase I application: Choose images that represent your best work. Images of finished work are preferable to works in progress. The jury wants to see that, as an artist, you are able to complete an ambitious creative project. By sharing finished work you are giving concrete examples of your ability to follow through. Phase II applicants: Ideally, the images submitted should have some connection to your proposed project. Sketches, drawings, short samples of video, or photographs that illustrate the concept or key components of your proposed project are also very helpful. This will help the jury to envision what you hope to make.
Ages:	For the 2023-24 application cycle, candidates should be no older than 17 years of age on June 1, 2024. Global.
Site:	Enter Here

Go Ape Christmas Card Competition

Create a design inspired by ‘Christmas Outdoors’ for the chance to feature on Go Ape’s 2023 Christmas Card and win a class trip to Go Ape!

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize: Class trip to Go Ape! (an action-packed class trip to Go Ape for their school AND a Go Ape family ticket for any national Go Ape site for themselves! The winning design will be featured on teh Go Ape Digital Christmas E-card with the winner’s name, age and school included. Plus, the first 200 schools who enter will receive a copy of our ‘Go Ape the School Trip’ book for their school library.)
Rules:	Create a design on the theme ‘Christmas Outdoors’ on white A4 paper. Must be in colour – coloured pencils, paint, crayons and felt tips can be used. We would advise you not to stick additional material onto the entry to make it easy to print your design. It should be image only and not feature any text. Must be uploaded as JPEG or PNG file from a scan or clear photo of the design.
Ages:	4-11 years old (UK residents)
Site:	Enter here

World Children’s Haiku Contest

The first Haiku Contest was organised by the JAL Foundation in 1990 and has been held every two years since then with assistance from the Japan Society.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Win a Trip to Tokyo, Japan – Winners of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards will be invited to an award ceremony in Tokyo. Each will receive ¥100,000 as grant money for travel and accommodation expenses in Japan. Both foreign residents and residents in Japan will receive round-trip air tickets (economy class) to Tokyo for two.
Rules:	Entrants must submit their original haiku and accompanying artwork on the theme ‘Family’. Haiku are short poems split over three lines and usually contain a seasonal word. The haiku must be accompanied by hand-drawn or hand-crafted artwork on the same page, using A4-sized paper.
Ages:	Ages 15 and under, based in UK
Site:	Enter here

Tabernacle Art Competition

Annual exhibition at MOMA Machynlleth, Wales. Artists can enter one piece of new work inspired by the theme ‘On a Windy Day’. 12-17 and under 11 age groups.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Ages 12-17 Winner: £100 Ages 11 and Under Winner: £50
Rules:	This year’s theme is ‘On a Windy Day’. Any 2D work allowed, including photography. Max size with frame: 36 x 48 inches (914 x 1219 mm). £5 entry fee for under 18s, purchase in advance here. For UK & International artists.
Ages:	11 and under, 12 – 17
Site:	Enter here

Picture-This 2024

A brand-new creative craft competition from ootiboo. It is a collaboration with author Holly Wadsworth-Hill who creates picture books – with no pictures!

Close:	TBAcurrently closed
Prize:	Schools Prize – winning ootiboo school pupil entry will receive two Picture-This Books book bundles; one for the individual pupil and one for the school. Each bundle will include all five Picture-This Books titles published to date. Imagination Garden Prize – winning individual entry of The Imagination Garden competition option will receive a Picture-This Books book bundle, including all five Picture-This Books™ titles published to date, and a pack of Love Writing Co. colouring pencils. Not Black and White Prize: – winning individual entry of Not Black and White competition option will receive a Picture-This Books book bundle, including all five Picture-This Books titles published to date, and a pack of Love Writing Co. colouring pencils.
Rules:	Decide whether you would like to create an illustration from The Imagination Garden or Not Black and White – or you could illustrate both, as there is no limit to the amount of times you can enter! Read the short story extract and use your imagination to come up with your design. Use any materials or medium you like. How will you illustrate the page? Remember that our gallery displays square images, so keep that in mind when you are creating your entry. More info Here
Ages:	Open to UK schools, age 4+.
Site:	Enter Here

Japan Society Design Contest

Design a UK-Japan costume for the traditional emperor and empress hina dolls to celebrate the friendship between the UK and Japan.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	£20 Gift Voucher – The winner in each age category will receive a £20 gift voucher or credit to spend on goodies of their choice at the Japan Centre shop. Other prizes include small goodies from The Japan Society.
Rules:	Design a UK-Japan costume for the traditional emperor and empress hina dolls. The judges are looking for designs which celebrate the friendship between the UK and Japan and look beautiful. Your design should include elements which represent both Japan and the UK and incorporate designs such as nature patterns, symbolic colours, animals, or emblems. Download the entry form and template. The design should have elements representing both Japan and the UK and incorporate at least one of the following: nature patterns, symbolic colours, animals, emblems. Take a picture or scan a copy of your entry and email to [email protected].
Ages:	Categories: 7 and under, 9-11, 12-16, based in UK
Site:	Enter here

Happy DEGART

International kids art exhibition and contest hosted by DEGALLERY, Texas.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Various awards – Best of The Show artworks in each category will receive a Prize, Diploma, and Rossete by mail. All winners will participate in an exhibition at Degallery from 17th November 2024 to 5th January 2025.
Rules:	The main theme is “WORLD PEACE“. Any medium is accepted: pencil, charcoal, watercolor, oil, etc. Pastels or charcoal entries must be properly sprayed to prevent smearing. Photographs and computer-generated artwork will not be accepted.
Ages:	Age categories: 4-7, 8-11, 12-14, 15-17
Site:	Enter here

Maths Photo Competition

Photo competition open to everyone in Scotland. Join us on a journey of discovery oot an’ aboot, the ‘why’ of shapes, and in motion.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	3 x Category Winners: £50 (Amazon voucher) 6 x Level Winners: £20 (Amazon voucher) 12 x Level Runners-up: £10 (Amazon voucher) Schools Prize: £100 (Most Engaged School — £100 Amazon voucher)
Rules:	1. find an example of maths inside, 2. stick a maths inside sticker on it, 3. take a photo including the physical sticker in the image, 4. add a title to describe your photo, 5. add a commentary to describe the maths inside (as short as 5 words and no more than 250 words), 6. submit your photo in one of the categories with the help of an adult when submissions open.
Ages:	Open to everyone in Scotland. Levels: Early Years — pre-school children & P1 pupils, First Level — P2–P4, Second Level — P5–P7, Third/Fourth Level — S1–S3, Senior Phase — S4–S6, Another Level — for those out-of-school (teachers, parents, anyone not at school!).
Site:	Enter Here

Junior Crafter of the Year Competition

HobbyMaker are on the search for the crafting stars of the future and the chance to win a goodie bag filled with art and craft essentials worth £100!

Close:	TBAcurrently closed
Prize:	Art & Craft Goodie Bag: £100 (Winners in each of the 3 age categories will have the opportunity to appear live on screen in the HobbyMaker studio (via zoom / live link) and receive a goodie bag filled with art and craft essentials worth £100) Runners Up: Art & Craft Goodie Bag: £50 (One runner up from each category will win £50 worth of art and craft essentials)
Rules:	To be in with a chance of winning, simply send in a photo of what you have made. You have full creative control – you can make anything, but you need to make sure you use at least one product purchased from HobbyMaker. Shop your Creative Craft kits here.
Ages:	Up to 9 years, 10-13 years, 14-16 years, UK based
Site:	Enter Here

War Through Children’s Eyes

Art & Creative Writing competition aiming to raise awareness of the impact of wars and violent conflicts on the children & communities caught up in them.

Close:	TBAcurrently closed
Prize:	1st Place: £100 Amazon voucher (additional school prize to the value of £200 if submitted by a school) 2nd Place: £70 Amazon voucher (additional school prize: £140) 3rd Place: £50 Amazon voucher (additional school prize: £100)
Rules:	Create an artwork (drawing, painting, mixed media or digital) inspired by the themes of war and peace. Some suggestions: Think about how your image can raise awareness of the children affected by violent conflicts; Create a scene that comes to mind when you think about wars and the children who try to escape or who wait to be saved; Identify the message you want to communicate to people who look at your work; Imagine a world without wars, where children wouldn’t have to run from their homes and instead could be tucked safely into bed by their parents every night.
Ages:	UK residents aged 7 – 17. Junior (7-11), Senior (12-17).
Site:	Enter Here

Harriet Kelsall Design Competition

Design a bespoke pendant celebrating the Cambridge area for a chance to see it brought to life by a goldsmith at Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Your Design On A Silver Pendant! – The winner will receive their design hand engraved by a talented goldsmith onto a Sterling Silver disc pendant and chain for them to treasure always.
Rules:	“Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery are inviting local young artists to design a bespoke “Cambridge Inspired” pendant. We’re a community surrounded by a wealth of history and beauty, and our designers would love to see what aspects of Cambridge your child’s favourite are. They can choose any inspiration from the area -perhaps King’s College, the river and punts, the landscape, the corpus clock or even a favourite café- the sky’s the limit. Once they have a design in mind, they can get creative and draw it on the design template provided at the Cambridge Studio and Shop, or can be emailed directly to you.
Ages:	UK based children of all ages
Site:	Enter Here

Thank A Teacher Day Competition

Create a piece of artwork of your favourite school team/member of school staff, portraying how brilliant they are for a chance to win £100 of vouchers.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize: £100 of vouchers
Rules:	Create a piece of artwork of your favourite school team/member of school staff, portraying how brilliant they are. Send a photograph of your special creation with an explanation about why you want to thank them to [email protected] and illustrator and author Rob Biddulph will choose his favourite.
Ages:	No age specified, most likely UK only
Site:	Enter Here

Festive Bauble Design Competition

Channel your child’s creativity in this festive bauble design competition for a chance to win their illustration hand-engraved on a sterling silver disc.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Your Design On A Silver Pendant! – The winner will receive their design hand engraved by a talented goldsmith onto a Sterling Silver disc pendant and chain for them to treasure always.
Rules:	“Tis the season and isn’t it such a beautiful, inspiring time of year? With our Festive Bauble design competition, your youngster can illustrate their favourite things about the winter season. They could recreate crisp, frozen landscapes; twinkling lights that adorn their favourite streets or places; or an image of special family traditions. Once their imagination is ignited, they can draw their vision onto our design template, using any medium of their choice. All entries are completely free, and each design will be displayed in our Hertfordshire studio and shop.”
Ages:	UK based children of all ages
Site:	Enter Here

Creative edding Christmas Weeks

Festive competition from edding inviting you, your friends and family to come together with your creative festive decoration ideas using edding markers.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Win lots of edding Products (huge selection of edding products including metallic brush pens, chalk markers, acrylic markers, and gloss paint markers.)
Rules:	“Follow edding on Facebook or Instagram for exciting Christmas competitions from November 1st, 2024 – December 16th, 2024 around our creative Christmas products – from edding chalk markers to edding permanent spray. Do you have an idea of how you want to get creative for the holidays? Simply share your creative Christmas ideas with us via a competition comment and get the chance to win one of many great edding product packages!”
Ages:	No age range specified (UK residents)
Site:	Enter Here

Sony World Photography Awards: Youth Competition

Monthly competitions for young photographers aged under 19 to compete to be Young Photographer of the Year and win Sony digital imaging equipment!

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize: top Sony digital imaging equipment
Rules:	Monthly competitions with a changing theme. Photographers can enter up to three images per month. Judges will select a shortlist of 10 images per month, including one winner, Monthly winners compete to be Youth Photographer of the Year.
Ages:	The Youth competition is open to all members of the public aged under 19 on the closing date of the competition.
Site:	Enter here

Send a Wish Poster Competition

Unlimit Health and The Leprosy Mission are inviting children aged 8-16 years in the UK to help raise awareness of neglected tropical diseases.

Close:	TBAcurrently closed
Prize:	Win Art Supplies and Parliament visit – Winners will receive art supplies and the opportunity to attend an event seeking to raise awareness of NTDs in Parliament.
Rules:	Send in a hand-drawn poster using any medium you like, on the theme: send a wish around the world to end neglected tropical diseases. The poster should be no bigger than A3 size. The competition will close at midday on Wednesday, 22 January.
Ages:	Categories: age 8-11, 12-14, 14-16, UK based
Site:	Enter Here

Young Railway Photographer of the Year

The National Railway Museum and the Railway Photographic Society celebrates 200 years of railway history with the second outing of their annual awards.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Lots of Prizes! – Entrants will have the chance to win journeys on heritage railway lines, bespoke travel experiences and subscriptions to leading railway publications. Prizes will be awarded to: The first, second, and third place winners in each age category, The overall competition winner, The recipient of the prestigious Railway Photographic Society award.
Rules:	2025 marks a significant milestone in railway history: the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world’s first passenger railway service. Creatively respond to celebrate two hundred years of passenger rail travel, past, present and future. Captured moments of the UK railway in its broadest sense, and this may include, but is not limited to: Architecture and structures, Tracks and routes, Signalling and signage, Railway and carriage design, Travel experiences, Railway landscapes, Heritage and nostalgia, Innovation and ingenuity.
Ages:	Two age categories: 18 and under, 19 – 25, UK based.
Site:	Enter here

Science Without Borders Challenge

Annual international contest that engages students and teachers in ocean conservation through art. 2025 theme: ‘Marine Keystone Species’.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize: $500 2nd Prize: $350 3rd Prize: $200
Rules:	The theme for the 2025 Science without Borders Challenge is “Marine Keystone Species.” To apply for this year’s contest, students should submit artwork depicting mysterious and unique deep-sea creatures or ecosystems, highlighting the beauty and diversity that often goes unseen. Learn about the theme.
Ages:	11-14 years old, 15-19 years old, international
Site:	Enter Here

RA Young Artists’ Summer Show

A free, open submission exhibition from the Royal Academy for young artists aged 4 – 18 years studying at schools based in the UK.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Winners – Prizes are awarded each year for two inspiring artworks from each key stage receiving vouchers for art materials or a free practical workshop for their school. See last year’s Summer Show. Selected pieces will be shown in an online exhibition and group show at the Royal Academy of Arts from 15 July – 10 August 2025.
Rules:	First, a teacher needs to register your school. Once the school is registered, your artwork can be submitted. If you’re 12 or under, a teacher or parent/guardian will need to enter for you; if you’re 13 or over you can submit artwork yourself. Each student can submit one artwork and there is no theme. Submit an image of your artwork plus some information about the piece such as title, size, and a little text about the artwork and why you made it.
Ages:	Students aged 4-18 studying in the UK
Site:	Enter Here

Leaders Award

If you were an engineer, what would you do? Pupils are invited to get creative with their answers via interviews and annotated illustrations.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Prizes: Awards & Exhibition – Winners from each age group are invited to regional awards and a public exhibition, all entries receive personalised graded certificates FREEPOST available to whole school entries.
Rules:	Pupils are invited to imagine if they were an engineer, what problem would they most like to solve? They do this by interviewing professionals from the engineering field to help inspire them to create their own design of a solution to a real-world problem through an annotated illustration detailing their invention. As well as annotation, they will put their formal English writing skills into practice by creating their own letters of purpose, detailing and explaining their ideas, using persuasive techniques to appeal to our engineer judges – a thoroughly engaging and immersive experience for pupils, teachers and engineers alike.
Ages:	UK based school pupils aged 3-19.
Site:	Enter here

Big Issue Go Wild Cover Competition

Big Issue’s Kids Cover Competition is back for Earth Day – judged by the legendary Chris Packham! This year’s theme is ‘Go Wild’.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize – Your design on the cover of Big Issue! have a go at designing a Big Issue cover that will appear on the front of one of Big Issue’s magazines on sale from 14 April.
Rules:	To get involved, look out your pens, pencils, paints or graphic design apps and create a picture that will blow us away. Go wild! Please use an A4 or an A3 sheet and make sure the drawing is portrait not landscape (that means the drawing is tall rather than wide). Make sure to include the words: BIG ISSUE on the drawing. You could draw what you think the world will look like in the future, showcase ideas that will save the environment, or take the opportunity to share an amazing picture of the natural world, be it an impressive tree in your local area or your favourite animal – from an Easter bunny to an endangered species you’d see on safari. So this year’s theme is GO WILD – and that’s exactly what we want you to do with your designs.
Ages:	Anyone aged 13 or under.
Site:	Enter here

Explorify Art Competition

Turn curiosity and creativity into a work of art for a chance to win a £50 book token and see your artwork used to inspire others.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize: £50 book token (The winning works of art will each be made into a new Start With Art activity that will be published on the Explorify site, ready to be used by more than 100,000 teachers with their classes of children in schools around the world.)
Rules:	The Explorify Art Competition invites children to create their own Start With Art artwork. They could draw or paint a picture, make a model or a sculpture, create a collage, design a print, take a photograph… whatever they choose. They might seek inspiration from one of our featured Start With Art artists (but note that children’s entries do need to be original, rather than copies of existing works of art). Or perhaps they’ve learned about the style and work of a particular artist, or have explored new skills in art such as water-colour or hand building with clay. Here’s a purposeful opportunity for them to put those skills into practice. Can they find a way to show their science learning through their art? Can they create something that will spark a conversation about science among other children that look at it?
Ages:	Two age categories: 7 and under (at the start of the Autumn term 2024), 8 (at the start of the Autumn term 2024) to 12 (at the end of the summer term 2025) (Entries are welcomed from all educational settings in the UK, including home-educated children.)
Site:	Enter here

British Science Week Poster Competition

Get creative for the annual, UK-wide poster competition, create a poster which fits in with the theme of ‘Change and adapt’.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prizes:	Lots of prizes! – Prizes for the 2025 competition winners include: Cool Cat Chem Cards, 5-minute STEM books, Shape Aliens Game, At the museum jigsaw, A Day in the Life…books, Shroot pouches, Memberships for My Science Club, MegaWatt Games, SuperQuesters: The Case of Angry Sea STEM adventure books by QuestFriendz, A collection of Science Works books, Two space-themed 3D building playsets, Our Living Planet book, WWF adoption pack, Annual subscription to Save My Exams, A 12 month subscription to Alfresco learning.
Rules:	The theme for 2025 is ‘Change and adapt‘, – there are loads of STEM topics to be explored. Pupils could create a poster showing how plants and animals adapt to changing seasons or surroundings, or how humans have adapted to changing technology. They could look at climate change and how we can adapt our behaviours to protect the environment, or their favourite science experiment and how it shows change. The more creative the interpretation of the theme, the better!
Ages:	UK based only. Early years (3-5), Infant (5-8), Junior (8-11), Senior (11-14)
Enter:	Enter here

The Box Art Competition

Calling all budding artists from across the South West! See your work displayed alongside famous names like Man Ray and Salvador Dali!

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize: £150 voucher (The winners will receive £150 voucher to spend at The Box and see their work put on show alongside a nationally touring exhibition.)
Rules:	The title for this year’s competition is ‘Surreal Estates’ and we’re asking you to use surrealist techniques like collage, photomontage or echo poems to explore the landscape around you. You can submit a work in any medium, including film entries (max 30 seconds). The only stipulation is that the entry must be sent to digitally (therefore a high quality photograph must be taken of the art work, if a drawing, painting, sculpture, collage etc).
Ages:	There are four categories: Early Years, Primary school, Secondary school, 18-25 years
Site:	Enter here

National Book Token Design Competition

Annual nationwide contest encouraging children to design their own gift cards for the chance to win hundreds of pounds of book tokens.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize in each age range: £450 of Book Tokens (£350 National Book Tokens for the school, £100 Book Tokens for the pupil) 2nd Prize in each age range: £250 of Book Tokens (£200 National Book Tokens for the school, £50 Book Tokens for the child) One Overall Winner: up to £350 of Book Tokens (£10 Book Tokens for every child in their class)
Rules:	To enter, children should design a National Book Tokens gift card on the theme of ‘Read Your Way’. Download the book token template on the World Book Day website, print it out, create your artwork then upload to their website. Winners will be announced in May 2025.
Ages:	Up to 8 years, 9-12 years and 13-16 years (UK & Ireland)
Site:	Enter Here

Easteroo

Now in its fourth year, with two themes for 2025: Eggs and Spring. You can draw, make, bake, build or paint your creation. Open to any age, anywhere.

Close:	TBAcurrently closed
Prize:	Farshore £50 book bundles (two £50 book bundles donated by Farshore, tailored to the age of the winners) Music Festival Pass (one family pass for the SyneFest family music festival – worth £150) £25 Global GoGift Card (one winner will receive a £25 Global GoGift Card) £25 Fred Aldous E-Gift Card (one winner will receive a E-Gift Card) Chocolate Eggs (one family prize from Kinnerton with a selection of themed chocolate eggs – worth £18.50) Eco-friendly art supplies (from The Natural Crayon Company – worth £21-£30)
Rules:	Get creative by drawing, painting, crafting, or baking your Easter masterpiece, inspired by one of two themes: eggs or spring (think bunnies, flowers, chicks, lambs, and more).
Ages:	Worldwide, no age limit.
Site:	Enter Here

Humanimal Trust Creative Awards

Create a piece of visual art on the theme ‘We Are All Animals’ – displaying the connectivity between humans and other species.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	16 Upwards Age Group: 1st Prize: Signed Noel Fitzpatrick books (and a Humanimal Trust messenger bag) Runner Up: (Book voucher, certificate & badge) 7-9, 10-11, 12-15 Age Groups: 1st Prizes: 12-month subscription to What on Earth! Magazine (worth £59.99, visit website) Runner Ups: 6-month subscription to What on Earth! Magazine (worth £29.99) Medical, veterinary & associated health related professionals including students (18+): 1st Prize: Virtual Meeting (with Dr Matt Morgan to discuss One Medicine) Runner Up: Signed Dr Matt Morgan book
Rules:	“This year’s theme is  ’We Are All Animals’. Not only have we chosen this theme as a celebration of the wonderful new children’s book by the same name, it is also at the very heart of what we do – leading One Medicine by removing barriers and closing the divide between human and animal medical care. Humans and animals share so much more than many people realise. We have similar bodies – right down to our cells and bones – and we share emotions too. Our lives are deeply connected: we live together, care for each other, share resources and, unfortunately, we also share diseases. Entries could be in the form of a painting, drawing, pencil sketch, pastels or poster. You don’t have to limit yourself to 2D artwork, how about venturing into 3D? You could use sculpture, collage, textiles or recycled items to create your artwork, based on this year’s theme.”
Ages:	7-9, 10-11, 12-15, 16+ (Only parents, legal guardians or teachers may submit entries on behalf of their children)
Site:	Enter here

Unique Art Awards

Art Competition for disabled children and youths age 7-21. Prizes include up to £750 for entrants and £5,000 for their school/college art department.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Gold: £750 in vouchers and £5,000 for school Silver: £500 in vouchers and £3,000 for school Bronze: £300 in vouchers and £2,000 for school Art teacher of the Year: £3,000 vouchers, or equivalent for other department winners
Rules:	All entrants for the competition must have a disability of some kind. Creative Themes (choose one): Portrait, Outer Space, Sun, Sea, Sky. Media Choice: 2D Art / Painter, Photographer, 3D Sculpture, Digital Art, Greetings Card. Winners to be annouced in September.
Ages:	Child 7–15, Youth 16–21 years old, UK residents only
Site:	Enter Here

YouCreate Competition 2025

Kent and Medway Collaborative Outreach Programme (based at UCA) asks young people age 11-18 to respond to the theme ‘Dreams’.

Close:	TBAcurrently closed
Prize:	Year 7-10 Category: 1st Prize: Apple iPad 2nd Prize: £150 Amazon Voucher 1st Prize: £75 Amazon Voucher Year 11-13 and FE equivalents Category: 1st Prize: Apple iPad 2nd Prize: £150 Amazon Voucher 1st Prize: £75 Amazon Voucher
Rules:	This year’s theme is ‘Dreams’. Your challenge is to think creatively about what this means to you. Artwork can be submitted in any medium, from film and photography, to sculpture or painting.
Ages:	Students who are aged 11 to 18 years old, living in the United Kingdom. To enter you must be in Years 7-13 or an FE equivalent, and born between 01/09/2006 and 31/08/2013.
Site:	Enter here

Junior Sketch For Survival

More than 35,000 species are threatened with extinction, submit your animal or wildlife art for exhibition & auction to help raise funds & awareness.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Exhibition and auction: (Your artwork will be exhibited in London & Edinburgh and sold at online auction to raise funds to help raise awareness of threats facing wildlife and wild spaces. There is an award for each winner of our six categories. Every participant will receive a digital Certificate of Participation.)
Rules:	Original signed two-dimensional A4 or A3 size work. The main focus of your artwork can be anything in the following categories from the IUCN red list – Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), Critically Endangered (CR) or Extinct in the Wild (EW).
Ages:	The competition is open to anyone aged up to 18 years old. You can live anywhere in the world. There are three age categories: Up to 11 years old, 12-16 yearsold, 17-18 years old
Site:	Enter Here

Ocean Awareness Contest

The 14th annual (US based) competition invites 11-18 year olds from around the world to create art that addresses the climate crisis.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Gold: $1,000 Silver: $750 Bronze: $250 Pearl Award: $150 Honorable Mention: $100
Rules:	2025 theme: “Connections to Nature: Looking Inside, Going Outside”. Encourages you to explore the natural world and your place in it. We invite you to think about your unique connection to nature and how being outside makes you feel. There are so many different ways that you can connect to nature, whether that’s exploring the history of the land you live on, volunteering in the fight against climate change, or taking a restorative walk in your local park. Go through the sub-themes and explore the topics that resonate with you. Share your relationship with the natural world through art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia. What is your connection to nature?
Ages:	Junior 11-14, Senior 15–18 years old (UK & International)
Site:	Enter Here

Create The Card Competition

Create a heroic artwork that will become the official BBFC Black Card for the new Superman film, released in cinemas on 11th July.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize: See your art on the big screen – Not only will the winner see their Black Card on the big screen in front of every UK cinema screening of the film, they will also receive a special screening of the film alongside a BBFC goody bag and some film merchandise. Nine runners-up will receive a BBFC goody bag.
Rules:	Design the official Black Card for the new Superman film. Artworks should be created on a landscape A4 piece of paper. Full instructions here. You can download the template here. Entries can be submitted online or by post. The winner will be announced week commencing 7 July, ahead of the film’s release in UK cinemas from 11 July.
Ages:	Children aged 12-16 based in the UK
Site:	Enter here

Write on Art

Annual national writing competition sponsored by Art UK and the Paul Mellon Centre to encourage an interest in art history among young people.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Prize: Young Art Writers Workshop – Twelve writers (four from each category) will be invited to a Young Art Writers Workshop. At this workshop these successful writers will have the opportunity to work with writers, artists and this year’s judges to develop their writing and co-create a zine featuring everyone’s work. The zine will be printed and published on the Art UK and PMC websites. This workshop will be an exciting opportunity to meet fellow young writers, develop your writing skills and gain an insight into sharing your writing through self-publishing.
Rules:	Choose an artwork from the Art UK website that interests or intrigues you. Write about it in a way that would persuade people to share your interest and enthusiasm. (400 or 600 words depending on age category)
Ages:	Age 14–19, UK based.
Site:	Enter Here

Embracing Our Differences

Annual international outdoor juried art exhibit featuring 50 billboard-size images celebrating diversity and inclusion.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	$6,000 worth of awards – A total of $6,000 (US) will be presented in the form of three separate awards – $2,000 each for “Best-in-Show Adult;” “Best-in-Show Student;” and “People’s Choice.” The “People’s Choice” award will be determined by visitors to the exhibition in South Florida.
Rules:	Submit your interpretation of the theme “Embracing Our Differences.” Your art should be horizontal and fit an aspect ratio of 12.8” (325.12 mm) wide by 8.8” (223.52 mm) high.
Ages:	All ages, international (13 and over can submit their entry online, 12 and under must submit by mail with parental consent.)
Site:	Enter here

The Copley Prize

Annual Art competition for primary school aged children to create art inspired by the work of LS Lowry.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	1st Prize: See your art at the Lowry Galleries – The winner’s art work will be framed professionally and hung in The Lowry Galleries next to the work of LS Lowry and more..
Rules:	Create a drawing or painting inspired by the work of LS Lowry. The maximum size for entries is A3 (29cm x 42cm).
Ages:	Primary school aged children based in the UK.
Site:	Enter here

Join hundreds of schools from around the world using poetry, drawing, painting, video, sculpture or other media to explore RE themes.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Class Winners: £50-£100 voucher Individual pupil winners: £20 Amazon voucher Paired winners: £10 Amazon voucher each
Rules:	Entries can include: Art (painting, drawing, sketching, etc), Poetry, Photography, Dance, Music, Drama, Sculpture. Pupils can create entries individually, in pairs or groups, or as whole class, year or school entries. 10 entries accepted per school.
Ages:	Pupils from ages 3 – 19
Site:	Enter Here

RSPCA Young Photographer of the Year

Put your photography skills to the test while showing an appreciation and understanding of all the amazing animals around us.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Overall Winner: £675 Prize Value (A weekend photography break including accommodation with a parent or guardian at Deer Rut Special UK with award-winning wildlife photographer Danny Green’s team at Natures Images. The overall winner will also receive an RSPCA Young Photographer Awards trophy.) Ages 16-18 Prize: £500 (£500 Amazon UK vouchers, photoshoot at an animal centre, trophy and a Camtraptions PIR Motion Sensor.) Ages 12-15 Prize: £350 (£350 worth of vouchers from Amazon UK and same as above) Under 12 Prize: £200 (£200 worth of vouchers from Amazon UK and same as above) Category Prizes: £100-£500 (various prizes and trophies for each category)
Rules:	You can enter up to five photos for each of the following categories: Your age category – under 12, 12-15 Years or 16-18 Years. Pet Personalities, Pet Portraits, Small World, Mobile Phone and Devices, Instagram, Portfolio – in this category you can enter up to three portfolios each made up of five photos, all must be different subjects.
Ages:	UK based young people age 18 years or below. Age categories: under 12, 12-15 Years & 16-18 Years
Site:	Enter Here

UK Grand Sumo Poster Design Competition

Children and young people across the UK are invited to design a poster to promote the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall this October.

Close:	TBA currently closed
Prize:	Win a goodie bag of Prizes! – Sumo is returning to the UK for the first time since 1991. Design a poster to promote the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall this October for a chance of winning a goodie bags of prizes!
Rules:	Design a poster to celebrate the return of the Grand Sumo Tournament to the UK! We are looking for bold, eye-catching designs that highlight both the event itself and the friendship between Japan and the UK. Your poster must be A4 size (approximately 595 × 842 mm) or designed using the space provided on the entry form. Any form of artwork (except photographs, digital or AI generated images) can be submitted. It should include elements that represent sumo, Japan, and the UK. It must also incorporate at least two of the following: landmarks, national colours, natural patterns, symbolic animals, cultural motifs, or food.
Ages:	Entries will be judged based on two different categories – Primary (Y1-6) and Secondary (Y7-13). Entrants must be 18 or under and reside in the UK.
Site:	Enter here

ootiBOO! 2025

Monster-themed creative craft competition for the whole family with £400 worth of prizes to be won, judged by children’s book author Jennifer Killick!

Close:	TBAcurrently closed
Prize:	Farshore Prizes: £50 Book Bundle (two £50 book bundle prizes available, tailored to the age of the winners) Global GoGift Card prizes: £50 (two winners will receive a £50 Global Gift Card) Harper Collins Books: Book Bundle (10 HarperCollins books worth £150 distributed between two winners) Dubs Sneakers: Pair of sneakers (a pair of Dubz Sneakers worth £45) Dinosaur Crayon: Crayon Set (dinosaur crayon set from the Natural Crayon Company for one winner)
Rules:	Use your imagination to come up with a scary (or funny!) monster. Use any materials or medium you like! You could carve a pumpkin (children need to be supervised by a responsible grown-up), paint or draw a design, or make a model. The possibilities are endless! Downloadable colouring templates will be available for younger kids. Scan or take a picture of your creation and upload to the ootiBOO website. The competition will be judged by Children’s book author of Colin’s Grandma, Holly Swain.
Ages:	Ages 4+, worldwide.
Site:	Enter Here

Playground Proms

As part of a rebrand and website revamp, school-age students from across the country are invited to design a brand new original digital art logo.

Close:	TBAcurrently closed
Prize:	£300 + your design featured nationally! – The winning design will become the official Playground Proms logo from 2026 and will be featured on the new website, social media and promotional materials across the UK.
Rules:	Design a logo to capture the excitement of live orchestral music, creativity and fun! Use a square or 4:3 format on a white or transparent background.
Ages:	Open to students aged 18 and under at UK schools.
Site:	Enter Here

The End!

That’s it for now but stay tuned for further kids art competitions as more prizes and contests are announced.

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