Youth Art Competition Guidelines
Competition consists of three (3) age categories with 8 contests in each age group: 9 to 12 years - 13 to 15 years - 16 to 18 years. No entry fee.
Each Contest will have awards in three places with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons and a cash award. One "Best of Show" award will be given.
Artists may enter only one (1) item per category. No limit on number of categories. Group projects not accepted - individual artist work, created by the artist. Entries must be display-ready (ex: wired for hanging, no glass). Maximum size hanging art is 24 x 36 inch.
Categories Include
Basketry -Beadwork - Cultural items - Photography - Jewelry - Painting/Drawing/Graphics - Pottery - Sculpture
Note: All youth artists are required to show tribal affiliation in accordance with Public law 101-644 (104 Stat. 4662, Act of 11/29/90) with one of the following: Tribal Membership Card; Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood
"Meeting" by Amerie Fitzpatrick (Crow)
Youth Art at the 2025 Red Earth Festival
This year, we're excited to bring the Youth Art Competition back to the Red Earth Festival, as it was in past years! Instead of a separate exhibit at the Red Earth Art Center, all youth artwork will be displayed at the Festival itself, giving attendees the chance to appreciate the full showcase of talent throughout the event.
We look forward to celebrating the creativity of young artists with everyone at the Festival!
Important Details
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Artwork Drop-Off
Wednesday, March 19th, between 1 pm - 4 pm. This is the only drop-off required.
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Festival Tickets
Each participant will receive four tickets to attend the Festival on Sunday, March 23rd, where they can enjoy the festivities and see the full youth art display from 12 pm - 4 pm.
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Awards Ceremony & Art Pickup
The awards ceremony will be held at 4 pm on Sunday. Art pickup will follow immediately after the ceremony.
CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
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Beadwork/Quillwork
Traditional and contemporary items adorned with beadwork or quillwork include cradleboards, medallions, necklaces, leggings, bags, pipe bags, moccasins, belts, sashes, purses, etc. Items are hand-sewn/ hand-woven on fabrics such as trade cloth, velvets, and wools. Animals hide typically is the base of construction.
Baskets
A container used to hold or carry things, typically made from interwoven strips of cane. Weaving Methods: wickerwork, double-weave, flat-weave, plaited, coiled & twined. Commercial kits and patterns are prohibited.
Cultural Items
A category with a wide range of items includes pipes, bags, clothing, cradleboards, dolls, drums, knives, musical instruments, bows and quivers, arrows, furniture, games.
Painting/Graphics/Drawing
Original two-dimensional artwork. Entries must be display-ready (wired for hanging, no glass). Includes Oil painting medium typically on canvas; Watercolor painting using water-based medium usually on paper; Drawings, non-printed work executed by hand including dry media-crayon, pastels, chalk, silverpoint, and charcoal; Liquid media using pen and ink, brush, watercolor, and pastels. Printmaking includes original prints hand-pulled, printed by hand by the artist or under the artist’s supervision (etchings, lithographs, woodcuts, monoprints/monotypes & serigraphs). Digital Art includes original artwork created using digital tools such as digital painting, graphic design, and digital illustration. AI-assisted artwork is not allowed in this category.
Photography
Original two-dimensional artwork. Entries must be display-ready (wired for hanging, no glass). A picture made using a camera, in which an image is focused onto film or other light-sensitive material and then made visible and permanent by chemical treatment or stored digitally.
Jewelry
Handmade, wearable items made of metal – silver, gold, brass, copper & nickel. Materials used other than metal must be natural materials. Items include belts, buckles, rings, bracelets, pins, pendants, bolos, necklaces, earrings, matched set, etc.
Pottery
A vessel made of earthenware or baked clay. Pottery can be broadly divided into earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware. Forms include jars, bowls, platters, vases and other traditional vessels. Items handmade and hand formed. Contemporary items are wheel-thrown, stoneware, kiln-fired. Finishes include un-slipped and unpainted, undecorated, incised, carved, burnished surfaces, matte & semi matte painted. Finishes include unslipped and unpainted, undecorated, incises, carved, burnished surfaces, matte and semi-matte and painted.
Sculpture – Metal/Wood/Stone/Ceramic
A three-dimensional form, especially by carving stone or wood or by casting metal or plaster: Carved, sculpted, or molded objects. Materials include bronze, welded steel, brass, wood, ceramic, clay, or stone. No 3D printing is allowed. Only original, handcrafted work will be accepted.