CAIS Art Contest2026 · Year of the Ram
CAIS COMMUNITY ART CONTEST · 2026
Celebrate the Year of the Ram through imagination, culture, and the five CAIS Spirit Houses. Every artist has a place in the story.
Choose your path now; you can review everything before submitting.
WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR
2026 brings clearer divisions, more ways to be recognized, and judging standards that grow with students.
Artists are recognized alongside peers with similar learning and creative experience.
Division honors now sit alongside Spirit House, Community Choice, and Rising Young Artist recognition.
Technique, creativity, communication, cultural connection, and craftsmanship are described differently for each division.
ONE COMMUNITY · FIVE HOUSES
TAKE PART
INDIVIDUAL
For one student artist in grades K–8. Choose a Spirit House value and tell us the story behind your work.
TEAM
For two or more student artists. Mixed-grade teams are welcome and judged in the oldest member’s division.
CONTEST TIMELINE
CONTEST HUB
Review the rubric, try the voting flow, learn about awards, or plan your artwork swag.
Each criterion is scored from 1–5. Select a division to see how expectations change.
Choose up to three works. This private preview uses sample entries; no vote leaves your browser.
Awards celebrate artistic growth, individual voice, community values, and audience connection.
Top-scoring Individual and Team work in K–1, 2–3, 4–5, and 6–8.
Celebrating promise, curiosity, and joyful experimentation by an emerging artist.
One recognition for work that powerfully expresses each of the five House values.
Selected through the CAIS community voting gallery, open October 16–30.
Winning artists also receive one complimentary CAIS swag item featuring their artwork. Exact items and fulfillment details will be announced with the awards in early November.
Families and community members can register interest in artist-approved merchandise. No payment is collected on this site.
CAIS students in grades K–8 may enter as an Individual, as part of a Team of two or more artists, or both with different artwork.
A team is placed in the division of its oldest student member so the same expectations apply fairly.
Original two-dimensional, three-dimensional, digital, or mixed-media art is welcome. Upload a clear JPG, PNG, or PDF representation for judging.
Every entry chooses Courage, Kindness, Curiosity, Perseverance, or Inclusion. Artists explain how that value connects to their work.
Judges use the published grade-specific rubric. The CAIS community may also vote for Community Choice from October 16 through October 30.
No. Every participant receives a gift, and winning artists receive one complimentary artwork swag item. Any additional preorder is optional and will require separate confirmation.
Awards are planned for the week of November 9, followed by the preorder window. Selected samples will appear at the December 12 Holiday Faire.