2026 Youth Arts Contest
Protect Our Earth, Protect Ourselves
The Earth Day Festival New Mexico is hosting an arts & writing contest to reflect what our earth has lost due to climate change and the importance of us coming together in the spirit of conservation.
Arts Categories
Performing Arts: Drama, Dance, Song, Film
Visual Arts: Painting, Drawing, Collage, Digital (26"x36" max)
Prose: Stories and Persuasive Essay (1,000 words max)
Poetry: Spoken and Written (1,000 words max) All spoken or performed submissions have a 3 minute time limit.
Age Categories
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Submissions: 2/23–3/23. No late submissions will be accepted.
All students in New Mexico are encouraged to participate.
Elementary, middle, and high school entries will each be awarded prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
1st prize $100
2nd prize $50
3rd prize $25
Submission Process
Visual Arts
Submit a photo or a file of a 24" x 36" piece (can be handmade or a digital file)
Performing Arts
Video, no longer than 3 minutes; winning performers will be invited to perform day of Festival. Please submit a link to where your video can be viewed, i.e. YouTube, Google Drive, Vimeo, etc.
Literary Arts
Submit via PDF; 1,000 word limit; original work only, no use of AI
Use of AI must be disclosed
Submission Form
Youth activity area sponsor | $2,000
Our Youth Activity Area hosts a wide variety of hands-on activities for children that educate, entertain, and inspire. You’ll also find art projects using found and recycled materials, recycling games, animals, face painting, storytelling, outdoor education, and a host of hands-on activities for children of all ages.
Sponsorship of this area is $2,000. Sponsors will be acknowledged on special signage in the area. If desired, sponsors may choose to have their exhibit space in this area.
2025 Echoes of Extinction, Voices of Hope
We had more than 125 students enter their artwork and poetry. Their instructions were to create a piece of art, a poem or a dance that reflects what our earth has lost due to climate change and the importance of us coming together in the spirit of conservation.
See the winners and their winning entries.