Artwork submission

Create an original piece based on your own culture, heritage, traditions, or lived experiences.

Allowed media

You may use almost any medium, including painting, pencil work, watercolor, ink, sculpture, ceramics, textile and fiber, yarn, photography, digital art, animation, and more.

Not allowed

AI-generated artwork, tracing, plagiarism, music, interpretive dance, and film.

If you have questions about what’s allowed, email atsculturalspotlight@gmail.com.

Your writing

Essay prompt

In 250 words or fewer, tell us about the piece you made and the culture behind it. You must submit your writing with an artwork.

You do not need to answer every question below. Write about what matters most to you.

You might write about

• What the piece is and what part of your culture it comes from
• Why you chose the subject, medium, or materials
• Something you learned while making it—from research, family, or the creative process
• What the tradition means to you personally
• How your version differs from the way you inherited or experienced the tradition
• How the artwork reflects your identity, experiences, or perspective

Your writing should help us understand why this piece matters to you.

Proof of process

Submit 2–3 images showing your creative process.

• Early-stage progress photo
• Midway progress photo
• Near-finished progress photo
• Timelapse
• Digital layer panel

These are not judged for artistic quality. They are used to verify that the work is your own.

Photograph your artwork

Do

• Use natural daylight near a window when possible
• Fill the frame with your artwork
• Use a plain wall, floor, or sheet as the background
• Hold the camera straight-on
• Keep the entire artwork visible

Don’t

• Use filters
• Edit the colors
• Crop out the edges
• Use flash when possible