Western Governors' Association "Celebrate the West" Art Scholarship
Deadline Date: 04-24-2026
1. Eligibility: The competition is open to high school students (Grades 9-12) in public, private, charter,
and alternative schools. Home-schooled students in that age group also may enter. Students must be
attending school in the following Western Governors’ Association (WGA) member states or territories:
Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana,
Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,
Washington and Wyoming.
2. Guidelines: Artwork must be two-dimensional and may be created by painting (oil, watercolor,
acrylic, etc.), drawing (pencil, colored pencil, charcoal, ink, markers, pastels, etc.), lithography, silkscreen,
mixed media, computer graphics, and collage. No photography or video-based submissions will be
accepted. The unframed artwork submitted shall not be smaller than 8” x 10” and shall not be larger than
24” x 36” unless prior approval is given to the student by WGF.
3. Subject Matter and Suitability: Students shall submit entries conveying what their state means to
them, how they are artistically inspired by their state, or the uniqueness of living in the West. All entries
must be the student's original work and not violate any U.S. copyright laws. “Original” is defined as
artwork that is unique in concept, design, and execution, and is created directly and personally by
the student. “Original” work is not a copy or imitation of another person’s work. The preceding
requirement also excludes AI-generated artwork, as such works will not be regarded as original. All
non-original work will be immediately disqualified, and the student will be excluded from all future
competitions or programs hosted by the Western Governors’ Foundation or Association. Entries that
unnecessarily depict violence or political controversy, are profane or pornographic, or promote illegal
activities will also be disqualified.