Wyland National Art Challenge
Scholarship Sponsored by Wyland Foundation
Overview
Wyland's National Art Challenge is a nationwide environmental contest inviting U.S. classrooms to create murals and individual artwork that celebrate conservation of oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. The 13th annual challenge opens October 1, 2025, and runs through a December due date. Teachers may register classrooms to create a 4-foot by 8-foot (or larger) mural; more than 20 classrooms that sign up before September 5, 2025 will be selected in a random drawing to receive a mural canvas kit. Schools that do not receive a kit may still participate by painting a mural on any 4-foot by 8-foot surface or larger.
Description: A nationwide student art and mural contest focused on water and environmental conservation, led by artist Wyland.
- Open to classrooms across the United States.
- Theme: conservation of water and related ecosystems.
- Mural canvas kits are awarded by random drawing to selected classrooms that register early.
- Alternative mural surfaces are permitted if a kit is not received.
Eligibility & Entry Requirements
Classes may register in the grade ranges K–5, 6–8, and 9–12; schools may register multiple classes but are eligible for only one free mural kit per school. Each mural entry must be accompanied by at least five individual student drawings or paintings that document the class's process for discovering subject matter and theme. Individual art and photography entries are accepted across grade levels and do not require participation in the mural component.
Eligibility: U.S. classrooms and individual student entrants across K–12 grade ranges.
Entry Requirements: Mural size 4'×8' (or larger), submission of at least five process drawings with each mural, and images—rather than original works—are submitted for judging.
- Classes can enter by grade category; individual student entries are also accepted.
- One free mural kit per school; multiple class registrations allowed.
- Submit images of artwork for judging, not originals.
Awards & Prizes
Prizes recognize classroom murals, individual artwork, and photography, with awards for both supply support and scholarships for older students. Three classrooms will be awarded $500 each for art supplies. Individual art and photography include scholarships for 11th or 12th-grade winners and gift cards for other winning entries.
Award Value: Classroom mural winners receive $500 for art supplies; an 11th or 12th-grade individual art winner receives a $500 scholarship and other grade-level individual winners receive $50 Blick Art Materials gift cards; 11th or 12th-grade photography winners receive a $250 scholarship and an additional photography winner receives a $50 gift card.
- Classroom mural prizes: three $500 awards for art supplies.
- Individual art: $500 scholarship (11th/12th grade) and $50 supply gift cards for other grade winners.
- Individual photography: $250 scholarship (11th/12th grade) and a $50 gift card for an additional winner.
Submission & Timeline
Image uploads for judging open on October 1, 2025, and the contest runs through a December deadline; exact submission cut-off dates are set by the program. Teachers must register by September 5, 2025 to be entered into the random drawing for a free mural kit. Judges evaluate submitted images rather than physical artwork, so entrants should prepare high-quality photographs or scans of murals and individual pieces.
Application Timeline: Registration and mural kit drawing require sign-up by September 5, 2025; submissions begin October 1, 2025 and conclude in December (program-specified due date).
- Register before September 5, 2025 to be eligible for the mural kit drawing.
- Image uploads open October 1, 2025.
- Submit images (not originals) by the December due date.
Categories
The challenge includes three award areas: Classroom Mural, Individual Art, and Individual Photography. Classroom mural awards are given by grade-category, and individual winners are selected from each grade level K–12; separate scholarship awards apply to 11th and 12th graders. Teachers are encouraged to involve students across media and to highlight conservation themes in all three categories.
Description: Three competitive tracks—classroom murals (collaborative), individual artwork (any medium), and photography—each judged on how well they express the conservation theme.
- Grade categories: K–5, 6–8, 9–12 for murals; individual winners selected K–12.
- Mural participation is not required for individual art entries.
- All entries should reflect the environmental and water conservation theme.
History of the Award
The Wyland National Art Challenge is organized by environmental artist and muralist Wyland to promote conservation awareness through student art. The 2025 contest marks the 13th annual edition of the program. The challenge has emphasized collaborative mural projects and individual creative expression as tools for environmental education.
History of the Award: A recurring national program led by Wyland that combines art education with environmental stewardship; 2025 is the 13th year.
- Founded and promoted by Wyland, a noted environmental artist and conservation advocate.
- Focuses on water and ecosystem conservation through student artwork.
- Has run annually, encouraging classroom collaboration and individual creativity.