Celebrate the West is a regional high school art competition that challenges students to create original work inspired by their state or otherwise evocative of the West.

No payment of any kind is required to participate in this competition.

The competition is open to high school students 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.

State and overall winners will be selected by the judging panel based on originality and imagination, artistic quality, and expression of the Western theme. At no time do judges have access to students’ personal information.

All state winners will advance to the final round of judging, from which Overall First Place, Overall Second Place, and Overall Third Place winners will be selected.

Voting for the People’s Choice Award will be open to the public and will be conducted separately. Eligible entries will include all state and territory winners. Voting will be conducted through an online platform and will be open to WGA/WGF sponsors, staff, and the general public.

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 student by the Western Governors’ Foundation.

All entries must be students’ “original” work and not violate any U.S. copyright laws. “Original” is defined as artwork which 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. 

Overall First Place - $600.00 and a podcast opportunity with the Western Governors’ Foundation.

Overall Second Place - $500.00

Overall Third Place - $400.00

People’s Choice - $250.00

State Finalists - $200.00

Chairman’s Award for Outstanding High School Art Educator (optional nominations by students on entry form) - $300.00

Students may receive additional opportunities for recognition through the Western Governors’ Foundation, Western Governors’ Association, and other project partners.

Submit a good, clean, and clear photo of your art to ensure the judges can fully appreciate your work.

Focus on a meaningful artist statement. Great art not only focuses on aesthetic value but explores deeper ideas as well. Tell us what your art means to you and why it’s important. Why did you choose to depict what you did? Who are the people or what are the objects in your work and why do they matter to you?

Take inspiration from what’s important to you. Instead of looking for general inspiration, think about what makes home, home. Is it your family? A best friend? A special food? A magnificent view? A life-changing event?

Don’t be afraid to make your work unique. The Foundation receives around 400 entries each year. Think about how you can make your work stand out. Is it quality? Telling a unique story?

January 5, 2026 Application window opens

April 24, 2026 Application window closes

May 8, 2026 State winners announced

May 11, 2026 People’s Choice poll opens

May 22, 2026 People’s Choice poll closes

May 29, 2026 Announcement of Overall First Place, Second Place, Third Place, People’s Choice Award, and Chairman’s Award for Outstanding High School Art Educator

June 2026 Overall winners and People’s Choice displayed at WGA Annual Meeting