Art Contest
Each year the Freedom Festival Art Contest gives rise to expressions of patriotism from students in K-12th grades throughout the nation. Students have an opportunity to share their talent through painting, drawing, mixed media, photography, or sculpture.
Details
- Submission Deadline: March 1, 2026
- Theme: "We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident"
Event Sponsors
About
“We Hold These Truths to be Self Evident,” as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Students may choose to illustrate the purposes and applications of the Declaration of Independence that may include its history, adoption, and recognition of significant individuals involved. Or they may focus on any concept or specific freedom that shaped our nation included in the Declaration of Independence.
Contest Rules
Theme: We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident – Celebrating 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
Eligibility: Open to all students K-12
Divisions: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12
Media: Painting, drawing, mixed media, photography, sculpture
Submission Deadline: March 1
All entries must be the student’s original work. No one else is allowed to alter it in any way.
Works must be submitted as a digital image in JPG format only. PowerPoint format is not accepted. The image should be no smaller than 300 dpi.
No personal or identifying information may appear on the artwork itself, so NO names, grades, teachers’ names or school names on the art.
AI Note: When you submit your artwork, please check the box letting us know if you used Artificial Intelligence to help you create the artwork. We would like to judge artwork using AI separately from artwork created using traditional methods. All artwork should be your own work. We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident
Judging Rubric:
Artistic Element: What is the overall impression of the art? Does it stand on its own as an outstanding work? Is it creative and original? What is the quality of the artistic composition and overall design? (Half of score).
Thematic Element: What is the quality of the clarity and interpretation of the theme? Is it creative and original? (Half of score).
Awards and Prizes
Cash prizes will be based on judging criteria.
Grade 10-12: Win up to $1,000.00
Grade 7-9: Win up to $500.00
Grade 4-6: Win up to $250.00
Grade K-3: Win up to $125.00
Theme & Resource Helps
This year’s theme is “We Hold These Truths to be Self Evident” Students may choose to illustrate the purposes and applications of the Declaration of Independence and the ideals that shaped our nation as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of this document this year. This may include its history, adoption, and recognition of significant individuals involved. Or they may focus on any concept contained in the Declaration of Independence.
Theme Expansion Ideas:
- Endowed with Liberty: 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
- Endowed by Their Creator: 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
- We Hold These Truths: Celebrating 250 Years of Civic Courage
- Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
- A Foundation Built on Principles: Celebrating 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
- Consent of the Governed: Celebrating 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
- “We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor”: 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
- When in the course of human events: 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
- Instituting New Government With Its Foundation Built on Principles: Celebrating 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
- Voices of Independence: Then, Now, Future
All submissions must support the primary values of: God, Family, Freedom, and Country.
Website Resources:
- Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and the Constitution
- America 250 Utah (K-12 lesson plans)
- National Constitution Center
- Bill of Rights Institute
- Center for Civic Education
- Center for Constitutional Studies, Utah Valley University: constitution@uvu.edu
Awards and Prizes
Grades K-3
Freedom Award:
We Hold These Truths: 250 Years of Self-Evident Liberty
Alston Bai
Challenger School
San Jose, CA
Patriot Award:
Beacon of Hope Across Generations
Priscilla Liu
Challenger School
San Jose, CA
Liberty Award:
Our American Promise— 250 Years Strong!
Mysha Nishar
Challenger School
Newark, CA
Honor Award:
All Kids are Equal
Mythri Madhusudhan
Challenger School
Sunnyvale, CA
Honor Award:
Stronger Together
Ovee Bhoite
Challenger School
San Jose, CA
Honor Award:
Crossing the Delaware
Lefei Liu
Challenger School
San Jose, CA
Honor Award:
My Freedom
Rongan Zhou
Challenger School
Palo Alto, CA
Grades 4-6
Freedom Award:
Freedom for All
Sophia Wu
Challenger
Palo Alto, CA
Patriot Award:
Freedom’s Watchful Eye
Olivia Williams
Maple Grove Middle School
Mapleton, UT
Liberty Award:
Truths We Hold, Voices We Defend
Shengjie (Daniel) Fan
The Harker School
San Jose, CA
Honor Award:
Freedom Takes Flight
Boston Skinner
Challenger School
Lehi, UT
Honor Award:
The Voice That Cannot Be Silenced
Lucas Wei
BASIS Independent School
Sunnyvale, CA
Honor Award:
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Skylar Helgesen
OpenEd – Nebo School District
Centerville, UT
Honor Award:
Our Liberties
Jade Rider
Homeschool
Ivins, UT
Grades 7-9
Freedom Award
Do We Hold These Truths to be Self Evident?
Penelope Lambert
American Heritage School
American Fork, UT
Patriot Award:
Self Evident Equality
Krista Allred
American Heritage School
American Fork, UT
Liberty Award:
As Freedom Was Set
Jasmine Zhang
Dream Art Studio
Cupertino, CA
Honor Award:
Open Arms to Liberty
Annie Li
Dream Art Studio
Cupertino, CA
Honor Award:
We Hold These Truths
Kayla Zan
John F. Kennedy Middle School
Cupertino, CA
Grades 10-12
Freedom Award:
Declarations
Brayden Barney
Maple Mountain High School
Spanish Fork, UT
Patriot Award:
Reflection of Freedom
Addalie Sheffer
Homeschool
Eagle Mountain, UT
Liberty Award:
For Faith, Freedom and Family
Lydia McClellan
IEProgram
Lehi, UT 
Honor Award:
Old McPolin
Taylor Hollist
Bingham High School
South Jordan, UT
Questions?
If you have any questions or are having difficulty submitting your artwork send an email to: artcontest@