The deadline for Young American Creative American Patriotic Art Contest, 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest and Illustrating America contest entries is quickly approaching! All art is due to participating/sponsoring Auxiliaries by March 31, 2026. No late submissions will be accepted.
The National first-place winner of the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest is awarded a $15,000 scholarship, while the winner of the 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest is awarded a $2,500 scholarship.
WHAT IS THE YOUNG AMERICAN CREATIVE PATRIOTIC ART CONTEST?
Each year, more than 4,000 high school students from across the country participate in the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest, which began in 1979 to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism in youth. This contest comprises only two-dimensional entries along with a brief written statement about the art. Students in grades 9-12 by the March 31, 2026 deadline who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions; or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools compete to win National awards totaling $37,000, with the first-place National winner receiving a scholarship in the amount of $15,000. (Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be permanent residents or have applied for permanent resident status to become a U.S. citizen.)
WHAT IS THE 3-DIMENSIONAL PATRIOTIC ART CONTEST?
Since 2022-2023, the 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest has existed separately from the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. Three-dimensional art can be paper, papier-mâché, pottery, clay, metal work, fabric, etc. The intention is the same: to show patriotism and one’s view of America through art, which is submitted alongside a typed explanation of steps taken to create the art/the artist’s statement.
Students in grades 9-12 by the March 31, 2026 deadline who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions; or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools compete to win National awards totaling $5,500, with the first-place National winner receiving a scholarship in the amount of $2,500. (Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be permanent residents or have applied for permanent resident status to become a U.S. citizen.)
WHAT IS THE ILLUSTRATING AMERICA CONTEST?
Created in 2019-2020, Illustrating America is a patriotic art contest for students in elementary and middle school who compete against their peers in three grade categories: K-2, 3-5, 6-8. Illustrating America encourages students to be creative and to interpret the “assignment” however they see fit. Some of the ways past winners have chosen to represent their view of America are by drawing famous Americans, by thanking soldiers or veterans for their service, by doing their best to make American Flags (students are not required to follow Flag code for this contest), by painting their own homes, towns and/or families, by sketching famous landmarks and more. The primary goal with this contest is for children to express their creativity and patriotism in their own unique ways, not to color a printed picture or trace another’s artwork.
