Teens: Submit Your Art to Teen Winter Challenge 2024 to Win Prizes

Are you a Chicago teen who's created art? Want to share your work for more people to see it? Would you like the opportunity to win prizes for your artistic work? Submit your art to our 9th annual Teen Winter Challenge art competition. Our form application below is open from January 2 to March 3.

Submission Guidelines

Who: High school students between 13 to 19 who live in Chicago.
What: Submit a portfolio of one to three original works created in the past two years, along with an artist statement.
When: Submit your portfolio before March 4, 2024.
Why: Every applicant will have one work printed in the 9th annual Teen Winter Challenge catalog, which will be added to the YOUmedia Zine collection and posted online. Submissions are also eligible to win monetary prizes and additional exhibition opportunities.
Where: The 2024 submission form is available below.


Prizes

Every applicant will have at least one work printed in our Teen Winter Challenge catalog. Of these works, up to 12 exceptional pieces will receive one of the following Amazon gift card amounts, as well as mounted exhibition at Harold Washington Library Center:

Senior Achievement Award
Open to high school seniors

  • Grand prize: $200 gift card
  • First and second runners-up: $125 gift card

Young Artist Award
Open to high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors

  • Grand prize: $200 gift card
  • First and second runners-up: $125 gift card

Distinction of Merit
Open to all Chicago high school students

  • Honorable mentions (6): $50 gift card
  • Finalist (13): $25 gift card

Winners will be notified by Spring 2024. By submitting your portfolio, you authorize Chicago Public Library to post a copy of your work with first name, last initial attribution in the Chicago Public Library collection as well as on our website, social media channels and other marketing initiatives.

Teen Winter Challenge Submission Form

Thank you for your interest in our Teen Winter Challenge art competition. The submission deadline has now passed.