Entry to the ECU Teen Art Contest consists of: 

• A completed application form; 
• One high-resolution photograph and/or media files of original and finished artworks;  
• One artist statement (maximum 200 words);
  • Include a description of the artwork and its meaning
• Optional: One (1) recommendation letter from a teacher (maximum 300 words).
  • Teachers should:
    • Explain why the student is deserving of the scholarship. 
    • Include the teacher’s first and last name, school name and email address.
  • A teacher’s recommendation letter can be used for more than one submission.
• Consenting to the terms and conditions and release of media for ECU use

Maximum three (3) entries per student.

Submission of an entry to the ECU Teen Art Contest signifies the student has read and agreed to the terms and conditions. By submitting, the student and guardian acknowledges that this action serves as their electronic signature and confirms their agreement to be bound by the ECU Teen Art Contest terms and conditions. 



Deadline: Entries must be received by January 13, 2027, at 5:00 pm (PCT) to be valid. No submissions will be accepted after the deadline for any reason. Any entries received after the January 13, 2027 deadline will be void. 

• Open to residents of Canada who are currently attending a recognized high school located in Canada in Grades 7-12 for the academic year beginning September 2026.
• Junior Teens category: Participants must be 13-15 years of age or have completed Grade 7 by July 1, 2027. 
• Senior Teens category: Participants must be 16-18 years of age or have completed Grade 10 by July 1, 2027. 
• Entrants must be under the age of 19 as of July 31, 2027. 

• Each participant may submit up to three entries (one artwork and artist statement per entry). 
• Artworks may be in any medium (e.g., painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, digital media, 2D or 3D animation, short film clips). 
• Files can be in .png, .jpg, .docx, .pdf, .mp3, .mp4, .avi, .wav, .gif and .tiff formats. 
• Maximum file size for photographs is 6 MB. Links can be provided for any video files larger than 6 MB.  
• Submitted artworks and statements must be original, created solely by the entrant and must not infringe on any third-party rights, including copyright. 
• Only digital copies of artworks will be accepted as entries. Note that any physical pieces submitted will not be returned. 
• Any submission or content that is AI-generated in whole or in part is not permitted. 
• A teacher’s recommendation letter can be used for more than one submission. 

A judging panel will review all eligible submissions received during the ECU Teen Art Contest period and select winners for the following categories based on the following criteria:

• Creativity and originality 
• Expression of ideas and materials
• Artist statement (maximum 200 words) 

A teacher’s recommendation letter may be taken into consideration during the judging process. 

Description of Prizes 

• Junior Teens category winner (13-15): One (1) tuition scholarship for a 2027 Junior Arts Institute (JAI) course of the student’s choice, plus a certificate of award.
• Senior Teens category winner (16-18): One (1) tuition scholarship for a 2027 Summer Institute for Teens (SIT) course of the student’s choice, plus a certificate of award.  
• Teacher Recommendation Prize: The teacher who recommends a Grand Prize winner in either category may redeem one (1) ECU Continuing Studies adult individual (online or on campus) course of their choice (valid until December 31, 2027). 

Any one of the three submitted art pieces can be chosen for the grand prize. The winners of the Junior Teens and Senior Teens categories will have their work and first and last names featured on the ECU website and may also be featured on social media, in catalogues, exhibitions and promotional materials.
 
Scholarships cover full tuition of the Summer Teens 2027 course only. Travel, accommodation, and materials are not included. Grand prize winners who choose not to attend Summer Teens 2027 will forfeit the scholarship. 


The teacher who recommends a winning student may choose one complimentary ECU Continuing Studies adult individual course (online or on campus). This offer excludes courses that are part of any program, certificate or micro-certificate. 



Honourable Mention
 
The judging panel will shortlist nine (9) entries from the Junior Teens category and nine (9) entries from the Senior Teens category. The artwork of shortlisted entries, as well as students’ first and last names, will be featured as honourable mentions on the ECU website and may also be featured on social media, in catalogues, exhibitions and promotional materials.   

By entering the ECU Teen Art Contest, you: 

1. Confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements and have complied with these terms and conditions. 
2. Agree that decisions of ECU and the judging panel are final and binding. 
3. Accept that awarded prizes cannot be exchanged, reimbursed, sold, transferred or combined with other teens’ scholarships. There is no monetary value to the prize. No substitutions will be permitted. 
4. Agree to indemnify ECU against claims arising from infringement of copyright or use of third-party material in your submission. 

Disqualification: Entries will be disqualified if they are: 

• Submitted late, incomplete, forged, or non-compliant; 
• Created by anyone outside the eligible age categories; 
• Generated or altered in whole or in part using AI; 
• Found that plagiarism is evident; 
• Found to infringe copyright or third-party rights. 



In the event of a dispute or complaint regarding whether an entry contravenes the ECU Teen Art Contest terms and conditions, the student may be required to provide proof (in a form acceptable to the ECU Extended Learning Department) that the entry should be deemed eligible. If the ECU Extended Learning Department determines (in its sole discretion) that an entry contravenes the terms and conditions, the entry will automatically be disqualified from the ECU Teen Art Contest. 



ECU reserves the right to amend contest rules, substitute prizes, or cancel/suspend the ECU Teen Art Contest at its discretion. ECU is not responsible for: 

• Lost, late, misdirected, corrupted, or incomplete entries; 
• Technical errors, server failures, or internet disruptions. 



Any amendments to the ECU Teen Art Contest’s terms and conditions will be posted on the website.

The decision of the ECU Extended Learning Department and judging panel with respect to all aspects of the ECU Teen Art Contest are final and binding on all entrants without right of appeal, including, without limitation, any decisions regarding the eligibility/disqualification of entrants and/or entries.

Registered JAI and SIT students who have previously paid for their seat in the JAI/SIT course will be reimbursed if they win the grand prize. 

ECU collects personal information for the purpose of administering, delivering and evaluating the program and the other purposes described in this consent form, pursuant to section 26 of the British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). All information that students and their guardians provide and any other information collected or created by ECU will be protected and used in compliance with FIPPA. 


ECU may also use contact information to notify the student about future programs that may be of interest to them. The student may opt out of such communications at any time. Additional information about our privacy policies and practices can be found at https://ecuad.ca/resource-hubs/privacy-and-legal/.
 
If you have questions about the collection or use of your personal information, please contact privacy@ecuad.ca .

By choosing to consent, the student consents to ECU using their artwork and photos and videos that include the student, in ECU catalogues, exhibitions, publications, motion picture and/or television productions, digital media (including social media and websites) and/or advertising that promote ECU, this program, and other ECU programs. In doing so, ECU may crop, alter or modify images of their artwork and combine such images with other images, text, audio recordings and graphics.

Any questions about video recording, photography and audio recording should be directed to ECU Communications at communications@ecuad.ca.  

Entrants under the age of 19 must have the consent of their parent or legal guardian to enter the ECU Teen Art Contest. Submission of the application form will be deemed as confirmation that parental/guardian consent has been obtained and that the parent or guardian agrees to the terms and conditions.