ACLU of Florida 70th Anniversary Art Contest

Eligibility

• Open to all Florida students currently in grades 6–12
• Individuals or groups (one entry total per student or group)
• Students under 18 must include a signed Parental/Guardian Consent Form

What to Create (Theme): “Courage & Community: The People Who Dare.”
Explore civil rights heroes, local community leaders, or your own take on courage and solidarity. Historic, current, or personal—make it yours.

Accepted Mediums (Upload Digitally)

• Drawing, painting, digital art, collage, photography, mixed media
• Submit a photo or scan of your piece
• File types: JPG or PNG | Minimum: 150 DPI | Max size: 10 MB
• Your entry must be original and created solely by you/your group
• No copyrighted images, logos, or AI-generated content (unless it’s fully your original work—i.e., not using third-party copyrighted material)

How to Submit (Digital Only)

Email: [email protected]
Subject line: Art Contest Submission – [Student Name]

Attach:

1. A high-quality image of your artwork (.jpg or .png)
2. A completed Entry Form (PDF or digital fill-in)
3. Parental/Guardian Consent Form if under 18

Entry Form (Required)

Include a separate document with:

• Student name(s) and grade(s)
• School name (or homeschool), city, and county
• Email + phone for student/parent or teacher sponsor
• Title of artwork, medium, and year created
• 2–3 sentence artist statement on how your work reflects the theme
• For groups: list all members and designate a primary contact
• (Optional) Display/Auction Consent (yes/no)

Additional Terms

• Submissions must meet the deadline and formatting guidelines to be eligible.
• The ACLU of Florida may reproduce, publish, and display submitted artworks with credit to the artist.
• Winning entries will be professionally printed and displayed by the ACLU of Florida.
• Entries containing plagiarized or offensive material will be disqualified.

Parental/Guardian Consent (for Minors)

Students under 18 must include a signed form acknowledging:

• Permission to participate
• Understanding of the contest rules
• Agreement that the artwork may be displayed and reproduced with credit
  A template consent form is provided in the entry packet.

Group Submissions

• All members must meet eligibility requirements
• One entry per group
• Prize money is divided evenly unless you provide a different split in writing with your entry

How Your Art Is Judged

A panel of ACLU-selected representatives will review entries and decide winners based on creativity, relevance, technique, and impact. All judging decisions are final.

Prizes

• 1st Place: $500
• 2nd Place: $300
• 3rd Place: $150
• Honorable Mentions: Certificates
  (Group prizes are divided evenly unless you tell us otherwise in your entry.)

Exhibition & Fundraising

• Select digital artworks may be printed and displayed at ACLU of Florida 70th Anniversary events across the state.
• With the artist’s permission, some pieces may be auctioned to support civil liberties advocacy.

Originality & Copyright

• Artwork must be the original, unaided creation of the student(s)
• Do not infringe on any third-party copyrights, trademarks, or IP
• AI-generated or copied images are prohibited

Use Rights & Licensing

By entering, students (and guardians if under 18) grant the ACLU of Florida a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, publish, exhibit, and promote the work in connection with the contest and the organization’s mission. Artist credit will be included in all public uses.

Disqualification & Disputes

• The ACLU of Florida may disqualify submissions that violate these rules
• All judging decisions are final and binding
• Any disputes will be resolved at the ACLU of Florida’s sole discretion

Notification of Winners

• Winners will be notified via email by November 7, 2025
• If a winner does not respond within 7 calendar days, an alternate may be selected

Accessibility & Accommodations

Need accommodation to participate? Email [email protected] at least two weeks before the submission deadline.