Guidelines

• Each student is allowed to submit one artwork. There is no limit to the number of submissions per teacher.
• Students currently enrolled may submit artwork created either this year or during the last semester of the previous school year.
• All submissions must be appropriate for K-12 audiences. NO offensive, explicit, or graphic content will be accepted. Artwork must align with educational values and be suitable for viewers of all ages, ensuring a family-friendly environment.

 

How to Submit

Students may submit their artwork digitally through our online portal [TBA].

You’ll be asked to provide:

• High-quality image(s) of your artwork

• Title, medium, and brief artist statement (Artist statements should be at least 50 words and describe the inspiration, materials, and message behind the artwork.)  (Registration Form)

• Your school district, county, and grade level (Registration Form)

• A Completed & Signed Release Form is REQUIRED for ALL SUBMISSIONS

Please Note: All submissions must be fully completed to be eligible. Any incomplete entries may be disqualified.

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges experienced in evaluating artistic technique and expression, with final selections made for regional awards and advancement to the OSPI state show.

 

Dimensions of the Artwork

OSPI is requiring the physical dimensions of the artwork. While there are no current limitations to the size of the piece, logistically there are limitations as to the transport and display of artwork at the state office. With this in mind, artwork that is oversized or extremely heavy may be ranked according to the ability to transport and display.

 

Artist’s Statement

An artist's statement is an artist's written description of their work. The brief verbal representation is for and in support of their own work to give the viewer understanding. It should be long enough to allow a viewer to learn more about the artist and the work, but not too long that it is difficult to follow the story. Often times, the artist’s statement affects judging; if the story is compelling, it adds to the work of art.

Submitting Artwork

To Submit your artwork into our 2026 Art Show please follow these three (3) steps:

1. Complete the Required Online Registration form.

2. Complete the REQUIRED Release form.  Student's under 18 must get this form signed by their legal guardians.

3. Submit photo files of your artwork into our dropbox.

 

Complete the required registration form

The following link will direct you to our REQUIRED registration form. Artwork in the show will NOT be accepted if a registration and release form are not submitted. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made. If you have trouble accessing the either of these forms please email ejoseph@psesd.org for assistance.

Registration Form

Download and submit your completed release forms

The following link will direct you to a REQUIRED release form for ALL art show submissions to be uploaded. Artwork will NOT be accepted if this form is not completed and signed.  Student Artist under 18 will need to get this form signed by their legal guardian, giving permission for their artwork to be recognized, and if chosen receive compensation for their work. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made. If you have trouble accessing this form please email ejoseph@psesd.org for assistance.

Blank Release Form  Submit Release Form

Submit your artwork files

The following link will direct you to a submissions box for ALL art show submissions to be uploaded. Artwork will NOT be accepted if not uploaded at the link shared. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made. If you have trouble accessing the dropbox please email ejoseph@psesd.org for assistance.

Artwork Submission Folder

Naming your Image Files 

Because the entire show will be virtual, a single image for 2D and multiple images for 3D artwork are required. Select all files you wish to upload, for 3D work multiple files of each angle should be uploaded. Files should be properly labeled as shown: 

• Single picture: Last name first inital -title (title should match the title on the registration form)  
• Multiple pictures: Last name firstinitial -1-title, -2-title, etc.

EX:  For student artist John Doe submission titled Appleseed, he should submit his file named as DOEJ-Appleseed.  For student artist Jane Doe sculpture submission titled Apple Tree, she should submit images of her work named as DOEJ-1-Appletree, DOEJ-2-Appletree, DOEJ-3-Appletree 

Please Note: If ANY of the above steps are not received, the submission will not qualify.

Originality

ALL artwork submitted MUST be completely original! 

If artwork is determined to be a copy, it will be immediately disqualified from the judging process/final show. 

Do NOT submit any artwork that has been copied, replicated, or manipulated from published photographs, magazines, book illustrations, or other artwork, including the Internet. If a photo is used, the original must be reviewed by the student’s teacher and approved to authenticate originality. 

• Teacher’s signatures attesting to the originality of the artwork being submitted is required. 
• If there is any doubt as to the originality of a piece, the teacher should not submit it. The integrity of the teacher and student in submitting only original artwork is expected and appreciated. 
• By signing the Student Registration Form, students indicate their understanding of these rules. 
• Students under 18 must have a parent/guardian signature allowing for the release of their student's artwork. 

 

How do I know if my work is original? 

• An original work is one that is new and different from what others have created. This means you are the author of the work, and the work is not copied from someone else’s original work. 

 

• Even if there is no exact or literal copying, the average person may notice substantial similarities between the submitted work and the source material. If so, it is possible that the work would not be considered original and should not be submitted. For example: 
  • A pencil drawing that directly copies a celebrity portrait that was taken by another artist is not original work. 
  • Changing the medium—for example, creating a painting based on a photo that was taken by someone else is not original. 
  • A painting or drawing of a photograph taken from the Internet or a magazine is not considered original and should not be submitted. 
  • Cropping or resizing an image does NOT make the work transformative.

Read OSPI's Original Artwork Requirements HERE

Download the Art Show Instructions and Guidelines for more information.

Sell or Exhibit Only

This year, OSPI and other agencies have chosen to provide monetary awards for artwork, the artwork will only be on loan and will be returned after one year of display at the state office or other agency. Other offers will be purchase awards and artwork will NOT be returned to the students after a period of time. It is important for student artists to accurately identify if they are willing to sell their artwork or if it is expected be exhibit only.

Only one (1) entry per student will be allowed in our regional show. 

Private schools and Art Schools will be able to participate in all portions of the show; however, pieces will NOT qualify for the state competition held by OSPI. Submissions will still be eligible for regional awards and scholarships.

Awards

The Regional High School Art Show accepts both 2D and 3D art work including: photography, ceramics, charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, acrylic, linoleum block print, silk screen, collagraph, collage, glass, metal, jewelry, chalk pastel, oil pastel, mixed media, paper, scratchboard, wood, etc.

Award categories:

• Regional Awards (advances to the state art show held by OSPI)
• PSESD Staff Choice (purchased by PSESD for $200)
• PSESD Board of Director’s Choice (purchased by PSESD for $200)
• Superintendent’s Choice Award (purchased by PSESD for $200)
• Best in Show 3D (Show recognition)
• Best in Show 2D (Show recognition)
• Outstanding Achievement Awards (Show recognition)
• King County Executive Awards (Honorarium offered by 4Culture)
• Pierce County Arts Commission Choice Awards  (Honorarium offered by Pierce County Arts Commission)
• Central Washington University Chair Choice (Scholarship awarded by CWU Art & Design Chair)
• CWU Art for Change Award (Honorarium offered by CWU Art & Design Chair)
• Arts Impact GRIT Award (Honorarium offered by Arts Impact)

The Arts Impact GRIT Award:

Art Instructors, do you have a student who showed extraordinary perseverance when creating their artwork? Be sure to nominate them for Arts Impact's GRIT award.

The nomination form can be found HERE on Art Impact's website.

 

Purchased Art Work

All art pieces that are listed as FOR SALE will be eligible to be purchased by the general public for a flat rate of $100.00 paid directly to the student artist.