21st Annual High School Visual Arts Competition 2024
Congratulations to our 2024 Best in Show Award Winner, "Ego" by Emily Bennett! (Seen Right)
The High School Visual Arts Competition (VAC) showcases and acknowledges art in four categories: 2D, 3D, Photography, and the Lamorinda Arts Alliance Digital Art category. All work is by high school students who live in or attend school in Orinda, Lafayette, or Moraga, including all schools in the Acalanes Union High School District. The competition features cash awards, merit citations, an in-person art exhibit in the gallery, and an online public exhibit of entries on the Lamorinda Arts Council website.
Registration 2024 is Now Closed.
View the 2024 Gallery of Entries here.
See a full list of past award winners here.
Important Dates for 2024
- Friday, 1/12 | Registration Opens
- Friday, 2/23, 11:59pm PST | Registration Deadline (online)
- Friday, 3/1, 4 - 6pm | Artwork Dropoff Window at Orinda Library
- Saturday, 3/2, 10am - 12pm | Artwork Drop Off Window at Orinda Library
- Sunday, 3/3 — Friday, 4/7 | Exhibit in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library
- Thursday, 3/14, 7 - 8:30pm | Artist & Awards Reception
- Saturday, 4/6, 11am - 2pm | Artwork Pickup at Orinda Library
- Sunday, 4/7, 10am - 12pm | Artwork Pickup at Orinda Library
Categories
The Lamorinda Arts Council High School Visual Arts Competition accepts entries for:
- 2D: painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, collage
- 3D: ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, construction
- Photography: traditional film and digital photography
- Digital Art (sponsored by Lamorinda Arts Alliance): two-dimensional artwork produced or manipulated on a computer platform and then printed on paper, canvas, or other material. The artwork may be an original digital painting, a digital graphic or illustration, or a photo image that has been manipulated beyond enhancement or applying effect to a photograph. Any use of AI software may not be used and will be disqualified.
Eligibility & Rules
All high school students living in or attending high school in Moraga, Orinda, or Lafayette and/or Acalanes Union High School District, including Las Lomas High School, are invited to participate. Students may submit only one art piece per category but may enter more than one category.
Judges/Judging Criteria
Professionals with experience in (practicing, teaching, or representing) the categories judge the competition. The criteria used for judging is:
- Creativity and originality
- Content
- Degree of expertise in the chosen medium
Awards
Cash prizes for Best in Show and 1st – 3rd place per category, for a total of up to $2,050, will be awarded.
Best in Show – $250
Per Category:
1st Place – $250
2nd Place – $150
3rd Place – $50
Honorable Mentions – certificate
Ego by Emily Bennett, Acrylic Ink
