education/
Canadian Art Inspiration
Student Challenge
Submissions for the seventh annual Canadian Art Inspiration Student Challenge will open in November 2026.
How it Works
Each year, students in Grades 7 through 12 from across the country are invited to create an original artwork that is inspired by a historical or contemporary work of Canadian art. Students may choose as inspiration a piece from the Student Creativity Booklet, or from the hundreds of examples on the Art Canada website. We accept works in any medium.
Prizes and WINNERS' SHOWCASE
Student winners are informed in June and have the chance to show their work on the national stage at Art Toronto, Canada's largest contemporary art fair held annually each October.
All student winners receive cash prizes in two different age categories: Grades 7–9 and Grades 10–12. The prizes are $500 for first prize winners and $250 for honourable mentions.
Student winners will also have their work featured in an online exhibition that lives permanently on the Art Canada website.
How to submit your work
A student submission consists of the following four components, which must be submitted online:
- A completed submission form
- An artist statement
- A high-resolution image of the student's artwork
- A high-resolution photograph of the student holding their artwork, taken in landscape orientation against a neutral backdrop
Resources for Teachers
Visual Arts teachers are invited to integrate the Student Challenge into their classrooms and explore the 10 inspiring art projects published annually in the Student Creativity Booklet. Spread the word in your school community with our downloadable classroom poster.
For more information, see our rules and regulations.
If you have any questions, please contact the Art Canada Education Team at education@artcanada.com.
To stay up to date on the latest student challenge announcements, please sign up for our monthly Teacher Newsletter.
Reem Hussain, a Grade 11 student from Mississauga, Ontario, holds her work, Between Generations, inspired by the art of Edith Clayton.