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XC Creative Art Contest Q & A

Contest Overview

  • Students in grades 6–12 from anywhere in the world are welcome to participate! This is an international contest open to young creatives across all countries.

  • Not at all. While artistic skill is appreciated, the contest places a strong emphasis on innovation and interdisciplinary thinking. Students with interests in science, technology, literature, or music are highly encouraged to participate—no formal art training is required.

  • Organized by the NextGen InterArts Foundation (NIF) in Boston, USA — a federally certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to interdisciplinary arts education — this global contest features an international panel of artists, scientists, and education experts.
     

    The awards are internationally recognized and serve as a “gold endorsement” on student portfolios.

  • No—this is an open-themed contest! We welcome your ideas, imagination, and creativity in any form that inspires you.

    However, we do not accept artworks with:

    • Violence or graphic content

    • Hate speech, discrimination, or harassment targeting any individual or group

    • Plagiarism or unauthorized use of another person’s work

    • Explicit or sexual content

    • Promotion of illegal or harmful activities

    • Infringement of intellectual property rights

    • Using AI-generated images

  • You may submit up to three artworks, which can be in different categories.

    ​

  • This contest encourages work that blends different fields—such as art and science, video and music, literature and visual art, or contemporary and traditional practices. Judges place a high value on creativity, originality, and innovative thinking over traditional technique.

    For more details about the cross-disciplinary categories, explore the pages below.

  • Top 30 Gold winners will be invited to participate in the exhibition. Participation is voluntary, with a $120 fee per piece to cover printing, framing, and installation. All team members are welcome to attend, and invitation letters will be provided for both students and their accompanying guardians.

    Travel, accommodation, and other expenses are the responsibility of the participants. General exhibition photos will be shared on the website after the event.

  • Submitting your artwork is completely free!

    If your piece is selected as part of the top 10%, you'll be invited to move forward and asked to pay a $25 fee to help cover judging costs. As a nonprofit, this small fee supports the administration of the contest.

    Top 10% awardees include Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention recipients.

  •  Artists retain copyright; NIF retains display rights for promotional purposes only. For more info, please refer to the Copyright & Terms section.

  • When you are selected as part of the top 10% of submissions, you are officially recognized as a Finalist of the XC Creative Art Contest. This is a major milestone that reflects the creativity, originality, and interdisciplinary strength of your work.

    Being a Finalist means you are advancing to the final round of evaluation, where your submission will be carefully reviewed again to determine your final award level:

    Gold
    Silver
    Bronze
    Honorable Mention

    Finalists stand out from hundreds of global submissions, and entering this phase signifies that your work has demonstrated exceptional promise. This distinction can be used in resumes, portfolios, or school applications—even before the final results are announced.

How to Participate

  • An online submission portal will be available on our website starting August 20, 2025. Once you click the submission button, you’ll be directed to a form where you can upload up to three pieces of artwork.

  • This contest encourages work that blends different fields—such as art and science, video and music, literature and visual art, or contemporary and traditional practices. 
     

    For more details about the cross-disciplinary categories, explore the pages below.

    artwork upload criteria.jpg

    Different categories will need to provide different materials: 

    Artwork image needs to be JPEG format, between 1- 5 MB. 

    Video artwork needs to be shared as a link. The platform doesn't matter, could be youtube, vimeo, behance, personal website etc. Please make sure the link can be opened and viewed by our judges. 

    Process work should be submitted as a PDF file no larger than 10 MB. You may include 2–3 photos of the work in progress, brainstorming sketches, and brief explanations. This helps us verify that the work is your own and provides insight into your creative process.

    Multi-angle video is an optional supporting material that helps us better assess your artwork. For three-dimensional works, it allows judges to view the piece in its entirety. Please film a full 360° view of the work.

    The 500-word literature essay (PDF format) is required for students submitting to the Literature and Art category. It should be your original written work and serve to complement your artwork submission.

    The 100-word description is completed when filling out the submission form and is required for all entries. Use this space to briefly share your thought process and the message you wish to convey through your work.

  • There are no size or material restriction since it's digital submission. But file format may vary:

    Drawing and 2D Works

    • No size restriction for the original works.

    • All drawings and 2D works must be submitted in image format.

    • Images must be in JPG or JPEG format.

    • The file size must be between 1 - 5 MB.


    Sculpture, Installation, and 3D Works

    • Students need to submit 1 image for their work.

      • image format the same as above: JPG or Jpeg not over 5 MB. ​

    • Participants are encouraged to submit a video link showcasing their work as a 360 to 180 degree turntable.
       

    Animation and Film Submissions

    • Videos must not exceed 2 minutes in length.

    • Please provide a link to the video for submission


    ​Music Video Submissions

    • Music videos must not exceed 6 minutes in length.

    • Please provide a link to the video for submission.

  • You may submit up to three works, each in a different category.
    Please review the category-specific submission guidelines before uploading your work.

  • The process is the same as for individual submissions. However, in the artwork information section, please select “Team Work” and clearly enter the first and last names of your teammates in the follow-up question.

  • Once you submit the form, you will not be able to make changes. However, if you have only saved a draft and have not yet clicked "Submit," you may continue editing before final submission.
     

    If you need to update any important information after submitting, please contact us at info@nextgeninterarts.com

  • Yes, you may submit works that have been previously entered in other contests or exhibitions. However, we ask that you submit recent work—please avoid submitting pieces created several years ago.

  • If you are applying from mainland China, you may be unable to submit through our online portal due to regional restrictions. Please contact our China regional staff at nextgeninterarts@outlook.com, and we will be happy to assist you with the submission process.

Judging Process & Fairness

  • When evaluating student submissions, we value talents that showcase originality, cross-disciplinary thinking, technique, and creativity.

  • All evaluations are conducted anonymously. Judges will not have access to the student’s name, gender, ethnicity, or any identifying information—only the student’s grade will be provided. All materials presented for review will focus solely on the artwork itself.

  • We use a dual-judging process to ensure fairness and quality. Each category is reviewed by two judges, each bringing their own unique perspective and expertise.
     

    This means your child’s submission will be considered from both artistic and technical standpoints. Each judge will independently evaluate the work and help identify outstanding cross-disciplinary pieces. This approach ensures every submission receives thoughtful and well-rounded consideration.

  • We do not accept AI-generated or plagiarized submissions. If a work is identified as AI-generated or copied from another source, it will be disqualified from the contest.


    To help verify authenticity, we strongly encourage you to include your creative process (PDF) along with the final work.

    • The submission ends on October 20th, 2025

    • Finalist announcement should be November 3rd, 2025

    • Final Results should be November 20th, 2025

    • Award ceremony & exhibition: Dec 14th, 2025 (Boston XC Art Center — optional in-person)

      Please stay tuned — you will receive an email notification with the results, which will also be posted on our website’s Contest Page.

Awards & Benefits

  • The XC Creative Art Contest offers a range of awards to recognize outstanding student work. Winners will receive medals and digital certificates based on their placement: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention.
     

    In addition to these recognitions, top-performing students are eligible for special prizes. The Top 1 overall winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize, while the Top 2–6 winners will each receive $150. The Top 15 winners will also be awarded a personalized recommendation letter.
     

    Furthermore, the Top 30 Gold Award winners will have the opportunity to showcase their work in the  Exhibition, making this not only a contest, but a platform for visibility and growth.

  • The first round of notifications—for the top 10% of submissions—will be sent via email only to the address provided on the submission form. The top 10% of selected participants will be invited to advance to the final round by submitting a $25 finalist fee, which helps support the judging process and contest operations. Being selected as a finalist allows you to move forward to be considered for Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Honorable Mention awards.
     

    After confirming the final pool of top 10% entries, we will determine the award levels: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention.
     

    The final winners will be announced through both email and our official website.

  • Top universities like MIT, Harvard, and Stanford highly value interdisciplinary thinking, especially through the lens of STEAM education—which integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics to foster creativity, innovation, and real-world problem-solving.
     

    Earning awards or participating in exhibitions through this contest can strengthen student portfolios and highlight key qualities—like originality, curiosity, and cross-disciplinary thinking—that are especially attractive to Ivy League schools and other top institutions.
     

    • Short-term benefits: Cash prizes, international recognition, and personalized recommendation letters
       

    • Long-term impact: Development of interdisciplinary problem-solving skills, a global mindset, and increased confidence in creative expression

  • All team members' names will be listed on the E-certificate to recognize their contribution. However, prizes are awarded per artwork, not per individual.
     

    If a team submission receives a cash prize, the payment will be issued to the person who submitted the artwork. Similarly, one medal will be awarded per winning artwork.
     

    The distribution of any prize—whether cash or physical items—is at the discretion of the team. We encourage teams to decide together how they wish to share the award.

    • We will present award medals to the Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners during the Award Ceremony.

    • All official Award Certificates, Recommendation Letters, and Exhibition Certificates will be emailed to you.

    • If you are unable to attend the ceremony to receive your medal, we will ship it to the address provided on your submission form. Please note that this process may take some time, as we are a nonprofit organization with a small team—thank you for your patience and understanding.

    • ​ For cash award

    • If you attend the award ceremony in person, your prize will be issued as a check.

    • If you cannot attend but are located elsewhere in the U.S., the prize will be sent via bank transfer.

    • If you are in another country, including China, the cash award will be sent in full. However, if any deductions occur during the international transfer process (e.g., transaction or currency conversion fees), these will not be covered by us, and you may receive a lesser amount.

Exhibition in Boston

  • The exhibition opportunity is reserved for the top 30 Gold Award winners. If someone decides not to participate, we may offer the spot to the next highest-ranking student.
     

    The exhibition will be held at the XC Art Center in Boston, tentatively on December 2, 2025.

    Participation is completely optional, and there’s a $120 fee to help cover staffing, printing, and installation costs.

  • No — the exhibition will feature high-quality printed copies of selected artworks. You will not need to send your original piece, and the foundation will take care of all printing and exhibition setup.
     

    For video submissions, your work will be screened on a TV or monitor as part of the gallery display.

  • The exhibition fee helps cover essential costs related to displaying each artwork professionally. This includes:

    • High-quality printing

    • Framing and display materials

    • Labor and setup costs

    • Venue rental and maintenance

    • Other miscellaneous expenses related to the exhibition

    The fee ensures that each student’s work is presented in a professional, gallery-quality setting.

  • NextGen InterArts Foundation will provide Invitation letter for visa. And help provide any additional informations needed for visa application. However, we do not cover any fees in this process.
     

    Exhibition date and location (Boston, USA – XC Art Center)
    Note: Students under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian; the organizer does not assume legal responsibility for minors.

  • We will share general event photos and documentation on our website after the exhibition. While we will do our best to capture as much of the event as possible, we cannot guarantee individual photos of every artwork.

     

    If you're unable to attend, we encourage you to arrange for a friend or family member to visit and take photos on your behalf. We appreciate your understanding, as our team will be focused on managing the event and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Fees & Payments

  • Yes, there are two optional fees, depending on how far you advance in the contest:

    1. Finalist Fee – $25
      If your work is selected as part of the top 10%, you’ll be invited to advance to the final evaluation round. To proceed, there is a $25 finalist fee that helps support judging and administrative costs.

      Please note: If the fee is not paid, your submission will not be considered for final awards (Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Honorable Mention).
       

    2. Exhibition Fee – $120
      For students selected to exhibit their work, participation in the exhibition is optional. The $120 fee covers high-quality printing, framing, labor, and venue-related costs.

    Both fees are optional, but they correspond to different stages and opportunities in the contest.

  • All payments will be processed securely through Stripe, a trusted third-party online payment platform.
     

    Payment Processing Notice
    A small processing fee (up to 5%) will be added to cover standard transaction costs through Stripe.
    Please note that some credit card providers may charge additional fees (such as international or currency conversion fees), which are beyond our control.
     

    Confirming Your Final Round Participation
    To confirm your participation in the final round, payment must be completed by the deadline stated in your notification email.

    If payment is not received by the deadline, your entry will be considered withdrawn, and it will not proceed to the final round of judging.

    • $25 Finalist Fee:
      If this fee is not paid by the deadline, your entry will be removed from the final round and no longer considered for awards (Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Honorable Mention).
       

    • $120 Exhibition Fee:
      If the exhibition fee is not paid, your spot will be offered to the next eligible finalist in line. Participation in the exhibition is optional, but the fee is required to confirm your inclusion.

  • We’re sorry, but we do not offer refunds once a payment has been made. You may choose to withdraw or cancel your participation, but the fee is non-refundable.

  • You will receive a confirmation email after submitting your payment form.

    Once your payment is processed, you will receive a congratulatory email confirming that you have successfully advanced to the next stage of the contest.

  • If you are paying the fee from mainland China, you may transfer XXX amount to XXXX LLC, our trusted partner in mainland China. The amount is XXX to account for transaction and handling fees.
     

    If you have any further questions, please email nextgeninterarts@outlook.com, and our staff in China will be happy to assist you.

Copyright & Terms

See our complete Terms & Conditions.

  • Yes — you retain full ownership of your work.
     

    By submitting, you grant the NextGen InterArts Foundation (NIF) a non-exclusive, royalty-free, and perpetual license to use your submission for the following purposes:

    • Displaying it on our website, social media, and email newsletters

    • Including it in educational, promotional, or exhibition materials (both digital and print)

    • Featuring it in press releases, publications, or contest-related communications
       

    We will not sell or commercially license your work without your written permission.

    If your submission involves group work or shared ownership, please make sure all authorship or copyright issues are resolved before submitting.

Other Common Questions

  • You cannot un-submit your work through the form. However, if you no longer wish to be evaluated, we can manually remove your entry from the judging pool. Please contact us at info@nextgeninterarts.com to request withdrawal.

    Please note:

    • If you choose to withdraw after paying the $25 finalist fee, we can cancel your submission, but no refund will be issued.

    • Likewise, if you decide not to participate in the exhibition after paying the $120 exhibition fee, we can remove your artwork, but the fee is non-refundable.

    As a nonprofit organization, all fees directly support contest operations and are allocated immediately. We appreciate your understanding.

  • Since submissions are digital, you will keep your original artwork.

    If selected for the exhibition, we will display a high-quality printed copy, so there’s no need to mail the original piece.
     

    For video works, they will be played on a screen or TV in the gallery space.

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