ARTEFFECT Competition Steps to Participate Submit Your Project!

In Step 1, students selected an LMC Unsung Hero from the Directory. In Step 2, students reviewed the Rules and Guidelines for the Competition. In Step 3, students created an original work of art visually interpreting their selected LMC Unsung Hero. In Step 4, students wrote an Impact Statement about their Unsung Hero and artwork.

In Step 5, students submit their projects using the online portal!

Use this Submission Guide for a step-by-step overview. Once all information and materials are gathered, visit the Enter page to submit projects by April 21!

ARTEFFECT Competition Enter Page

TIP: Allow ample time to make a submission. Submissions are due April 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

ARTEFFECT Competition
Prize Categories

The annual juried competition offers over $35,000 in prizes across multiple categories for students in grades 6-12. All submissions are eligible for the Grand Prize of $6,000.

In addition to the top awards, the 2026 Competition has three Spotlight Prize Categories: Unsung Heroes, 3D, and Large Format (larger than 24×36 inches).

Spotlight Prize – Unsung Heroes: Browse the 10 Spotlight Unsung Heroes selected for the 2026 ARTEFFECT Competition: ‍Emile Berliner, ‍Emma Darling Cushman, Dr. Sidney Farber, Bela Ya’ari Hazan, Dr. Maurice Hilleman, Curt Lowens, Lt. Col. Tran Ngoc Hue, Dr. Frances Kelsey, Marie Tharp, and Carl Wilkens.

Spotlight Prizes are $1,000 and there may be multiple winners in this category. Spotlight Prize submissions are eligible for all top awards and prizes but can only win one. Learn more about the prizes.

Download Prize Categories Flyer

Ambassadors in Action!

Meet our 2024-2025 Ambassador Cheryl Lunger, a retired Drawing & Painting Teacher from LaVilla School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida.

Each ARTEFFECT Ambassador culminates their visual arts online fellowship with a capstone project that brings the inspiring stories of the LMC Unsung Heroes into their classrooms and communities. Here is an excerpt from Cheryl’s Capstone Project report:

“My capstone project centered around passing the torch to the teacher of record, as I have retired. I worked virtually with the teacher until I was able to make weekly progress meetings with students.”

Congratulations to Cheryl and her students at LaVilla School of the Arts for multiple years of incredible and award-winning ARTEFFECT projects!