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2026 Wisconsin Creates Statewide K–12 Art Competition
2026 Wisconsin Creates Statewide K–12 Art Competition
We Are Wisconsin: Celebrating the cultures, communities, and stories that shape our state.
School Choice Wisconsin invites students across Wisconsin to participate in the 2026 Wisconsin Creates statewide art competition. Students are encouraged to express what Wisconsin means to them through their experiences, families, cultures, neighborhoods, schools, communities, traditions, landmarks, or hopes for the state’s future.
Eligibility
The competition is open to students ages 4–18 who:
- Reside in Wisconsin.
- Are enrolled in grades K4–12 during the 2026–2027 school year.
- Attend a public, private, charter, parochial, or homeschool program in Wisconsin.
Competition Categories
Students will compete in one of the following categories:
- K4–2nd grade
- 3rd–5th grade
- 6th–8th grade
- 9th–12th grade
One first-place, one second-place, and one third-place winner will be selected in each category, for a total of 12 winners.
Awards and Recognition
All 12 category winners will receive:
- Written recognition from School Choice Wisconsin.
- Feature on School Choice Wisconsin’s website, social media platforms, newsletters, and related communications.
- Subject to required parent or legal guardian permission
- Official Wisconsin Legislative Citation
- Artwork displayed at Wisconsin State Capitol (dates TBD)
Each first-place winner will receive:
- A special invitation to attend and be highlighted at our National School Choice Week Celebration at the Wisconsin State Capitol in January 2027
- A $100 Kwik Trip gift card intended to help offset travel expenses related to attending the celebration, subject to event and travel details.
- 9th–12th grade: $200 cash prize or prize of equivalent value.
- 6th–8th grade: $150 cash prize or prize of equivalent value.
- 3rd–5th grade: $100 cash prize or prize of equivalent value.
- K4–2nd grade: $50 cash prize or prize of equivalent value.
Final prize details may be updated as additional sponsors and donations are confirmed. Any substitution will be of equal or comparable value.
Submission Period and Deadline
Artwork must be received by School Choice Wisconsin between:
October 19, 2026, and October 30, 2026
The final submission deadline is:
October 30, 2026
All artwork must be received by October 30, 2026. A postmark does not guarantee eligibility if the entry arrives after the deadline.
Artwork Requirements
Each student may submit one entry only.
Eligible artwork must:
- Be the student’s original work.
- Relate to or respond to the competition theme.
- Be created using traditional, physical art materials.
- Be suitable for public display and a K–12 audience.
The following formats are not eligible:
- Digital art.
- Photography
- Sculpture or three-dimensional artwork.
- Artificial-intelligence-assisted artwork.
- Group projects.
- Artwork created primarily by another person.
Required Submission Information
Each entry must include the following information:
- Student’s full name.
- Student’s age.
- Grade level.
- School name.
- City of residence
- Parent or legal guardian name.
- Parent or legal guardian contact information.
- Brief description of the artwork and how it relates to the theme.
- If you would like to donate your artwork to SCW or have it returned.
Example:
Submission Address
Please mail or deliver artwork to:
School Choice Wisconsin
Attn: Wisconsin Creates Competition
375 Bishops Way, Suite 101
Brookfield, WI 53005
Please write “Wisconsin Creates” on the package.
School Choice Wisconsin is not responsible for artwork that is lost, damaged, delayed, misdirected, or not received by the deadline.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged within each grade category based on:
- Interpretation of the theme.
- Originality and creativity.
- Technical skill appropriate to the student’s age and grade level.
- Artistic effort and personal expression.
- Overall presentation and impact.
Judging decisions are final.
Winner Announcement and Public Recognition
Winners will be announced on November 20, 2026 through School Choice Wisconsin communications and contacted directly.
With parent or legal guardian permission, the first name of each winner and the winner’s school name will be published when the winners are announced. Winner information may appear on the Wisconsin Creates website, School Choice Wisconsin social media, email communications, press materials, and related promotional materials.
Artwork Return Policy
Artwork may be picked up from School Choice Wisconsin after the competition.
All artwork, except for winning artwork must be picked up by:
December 18, 2026
Artwork not picked up by December 18 may not be available for return. All participants who would like artwork mailed back must provide a prepaid, appropriately sized return label with their submission.
Important note: winning artwork will be retained through the National School Choice Week Celebration in January 2027. Winners attending the event may take their artwork home after the celebration. All remaining winning artwork will be returned using the provided prepaid return label; please expect return delivery by mid-February 2027.
School Choice Wisconsin welcomes optional donations of student artwork. Donated pieces may be displayed at future events, in School Choice Wisconsin offices, or in materials celebrating Wisconsin Creates and student creativity. Donating artwork is completely voluntary and is not required for contest participation or eligibility.
Sponsor Recognition
Wisconsin Creates is grateful to the organizations that support student creativity and recognition.
We are pleased to recognize the Milwaukee Art Museum as a 2026 Wisconsin Creates prize donor.
Support Wisconsin Creates: Financial contributions and in-kind donations are still welcome to help celebrate Wisconsin’s student artists. School Choice Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization, and all eligible contributions are tax-deductible as permitted by law. For more information, contact [email protected].
Additional Questions
Please, contact Nataly Andrade at [email protected] or call 414.319.9160
Previous Winners
