By submitting artwork to the XC Creative Art Contest, participants and their guardians agree to the following terms:
 

1. Eligibility

• Participants must be students in grades 6–12.

• Submissions can be individual or group projects (maximum of 4 students per group).

• Each participant may submit up to 3 original works.
   

2. Categories

Participants may enter work in any of the following categories:

• Science + Art: 3D Printing, Kinetic Sculpture, Artistic Circuits, Architectural 3D Modeling, Drawing Robots

• Video Art + Music: Animation/Film, Music Videos, Performance Videos

• Literature + Art: Book Design, Literature and Illustration

• Traditional Art: Drawing, Painting, Photography, Digital Art, Mixed Media
   

3. Originality & Content Restrictions

• All submissions must be the original creation of the participant(s).

• The use of AI-generated images or tools is strictly prohibited. Any submission found to be AI-generated will be disqualified.

• Entries must not contain or depict:

  • Violence or bodily harm

  • Hate speech, racism, or discriminatory content

  • Plagiarized work or materials owned by others

• NIF reserves the right to disqualify any entry that violates these restrictions.
   

4. Artwork Submission Requirements

• Each digital file must be named using the following format:
  LastName_FirstName_ArtworkTitle — and must be submitted in both Pinyin and English.Example: Li_Haoran_MemoryGarden

• Submission formats and file types vary by category. Please refer to the official submission guide for full details:
   https://www.nextgeninterarts.com/videoart-music

• A brief artist statement (maximum 100 words) must accompany each submission, describing the concept, message, or creative process behind the work.

• Once submitted, entries cannot be edited. To request an exception, contact an administrator to unlock your submission.

• If you experience technical difficulties during submission, or if you require support due to a disability, language barrier, or other accessibility needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team will do its best to assist and accommodate your situation.
   

5. Use of Submitted Artwork

By submitting, participants grant NIF a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to:

• Display the work online (website, social media, email newsletters)

• Use the work in educational, promotional, and exhibition materials (print and digital)

• Feature selected works in press releases, catalogs, and public communications
   

Participants retain full ownership of their work.

NIF will not sell or commercially license any submitted work without the written consent of the creator(s). Disputes over authorship, group ownership, or shared rights must be resolved before submission.
 

6. Personal Information & Privacy

• Participant data (e.g., name, school, grade, contact information) is collected solely for the purposes of contest administration, outreach, and recognition.

• NIF will not sell, transfer, or disclose personal data to any third party.

• Data will be securely stored and deleted after contest completion unless opt-in consent is given for future updates.
   

7. Consent & Authorization

• Submission of work implies full agreement with these Terms & Conditions.

• For participants under 18, a parent or legal guardian must authorize the submission.

• By paying the final round entry fee, participants and guardians acknowledge full understanding and acceptance of all rules. No withdrawal or refund is permitted once the fee is processed.
   

8. Judging, Final Round & Fees

Initial entry is free of charge.
 

A $25 fee per artwork will apply only if your submission is selected for the final round, which will include exactly the top 10% of entries based on overall quality and jury evaluation. This percentage is fixed and calculated based on the total number of eligible submissions received.
 

This fee helps support essential administrative tasks, jury coordination, and award preparation. It also confirms your intention to continue in the competition. We kindly note that due to the administrative nature of this process, this fee is non-refundable, even in cases of withdrawal, schedule conflicts, or unforeseen technical difficulties.
 

If multiple artworks are selected, each will be considered individually and subject to its own final round fee.

Payment Processing Notice
- A small transaction fee (up to 5%) will be included to cover standard processing costs via Stripe, our secure payment processor.

Please be aware that some credit card providers may apply additional charges (e.g., for international or currency conversions), which are beyond our control.

Confirming Your Final Round Participation
To confirm participation, payment should be completed by the deadline provided in your notification email.
If we do not receive payment by the deadline, your entry will be considered a withdrawal from the final round, and it will not move forward in the judging process.

Awards & Jury Process
All artworks selected for the final round will receive one of the following distinctions: Gold, Silver, or Bronze Award.

The jury panel is composed of experienced professionals appointed by the Foundation.

While we recognize the passion and effort behind each submission, participants and their guardians are expected to respect the jury’s decisions. Any disrespectful, defamatory, or hostile behavior toward jurors or the selection process is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate disqualification or exclusion from future contests.

All judging decisions are final and made with care, integrity, and expertise.
 

9. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

• While NIF will make reasonable efforts to maintain the integrity of submissions and judging, it is not liable for:

  • Technical errors, corrupted files, or failed uploads

  • Miscommunications or platform failures

  • Data loss due to system failure or user error

• NIF reserves the right to:

  • Cancel, delay, or modify the contest due to unforeseen circumstances

  • Disqualify entries for rule violations, offensive content, or misrepresentation

  • Limit or deny access to any participant who breaches these terms
     

10. Contact Information

For questions or clarification, please contact: info@nextgeninterarts.org