ESS ART CONTEST 2027
Student Art Competition
Submission Deadline: December 13, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Entry Fee: Free
Organizer: ESS
Eligibility: Students in grades K–12 attending eligible public schools or charter schools in the continental United States.
About the Contest
ESS is organizing the 2027 ESS Art Contest to encourage students to express their imagination, creativity, and artistic abilities.
This year’s theme invites students to imagine an ordinary school day turning into a fairy-tale adventure. Participants are asked to create an original artwork inspired by the idea of a fairy tale coming to life during a school day and what happens next.
Contest Theme
“Once upon a school day, a fairy tale came to life. What happened next?”
Participants may imagine a magical school day, a fantastical event in the classroom, an extraordinary journey to school, or another original story inspired by their imagination. Artwork should reflect the theme and demonstrate the student’s own creative interpretation.
Who Can Participate?
- Students from kindergarten through grade 12 (K–12) may participate.
- Participants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
- Students must be enrolled in an eligible public school or charter school located in the continental United States.
- Parental or legal guardian permission is required for minors.
Important: This contest is not open to international participants. Students attending school in Türkiye are not eligible unless they meet all the stated eligibility requirements.
Accepted Art Techniques
Traditional and digital artwork are accepted.
Traditional media may include:
- Watercolor
- Acrylic paint
- Oil paint
- Graphite and colored pencils
- Charcoal drawing
- Pastels and chalk
- Markers and similar drawing materials
Digital media may include:
- Digital drawing
- Digital painting
- Digital photography
Entries must be two-dimensional. Three-dimensional artwork, videos, and animations are not accepted.
Artwork must be original and created without the use of artificial intelligence or automated tools, in accordance with the contest rules. Copyrighted content, characters, and materials belonging to other individuals or organizations must not be used.
Technical Requirements
- Each student may submit only one artwork.
- The artwork must be original and previously unpublished.
- The artwork must be scanned or photographed digitally.
- The image must be clear, well-lit, and detailed enough for evaluation.
- Accepted file formats: JPG or PNG.
- Maximum file size: 5 MB.
- The submission form must include the artwork’s title and all other required information.
- Applications must be submitted in English.
Incomplete submissions or artwork that does not comply with the contest rules may be disqualified.
How to Enter
Entries must be submitted online.
- Visit the official contest website.
- Complete the online entry form.
- Enter the title of your artwork.
- Upload your artwork in JPG or PNG format.
- If a parent or legal guardian is submitting the entry, complete the required authorization section.
- For entries submitted through a teacher, a teacher permission form signed by the parent or legal guardian must be included.
- Submit the completed application before the deadline.
Prizes
Students are judged in four grade divisions:
- Grades K–2
- Grades 3–5
- Grades 6–8
- Grades 9–12
The winner in each grade division will receive:
- A $500 American Express gift card
- A $500 award for the student’s school
The prizes are scheduled to be delivered by April 30, 2027.
Judging Process
Five ESS judges evaluate entries based on the following criteria:
- Artistic skill
- Creativity and originality
- Relevance to the contest theme
- A distinctive and innovative approach
- Technical skill appropriate to the student’s grade level
- Compliance with the contest’s technical requirements and rules
In each grade division, the four highest-scoring traditional-art finalists and the highest-scoring digital-art finalist advance to the next stage. This results in five finalists per grade division.
Finalists’ artwork will be featured on ESS’s Facebook and Instagram accounts for public voting. The winner in each grade division will be selected by combining the judges’ scores with the results of social media engagement.
Important Dates
- Contest opens: September 25, 2026
- Submission deadline: December 13, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
- Public voting: January 25–31, 2027
- Winners announced: February 3, 2027
- Scheduled deadline for prize delivery: April 30, 2027
The organizer may change these dates.
Official Entry and Information
Official contest website: https://ess.com/art-contest/
Questions: ArtContest@ess.com
Applicants should carefully review the official rules, eligibility requirements, and technical specifications before submitting their work.
Important Notice: Contest rules and dates may change at the organizer’s discretion. Students, parents, and teachers should always check the official website for the latest information, application instructions, and any updates before entering.
