Organized by the Youth Initiative Vancouver [YIV] and the Academy of Modern Art [AOMA], this contest aims to foster international artistic exchanges among youth and discover outstanding talents from around the globe with artistic expression, creativity, and a sense of social responsibility.
As an international platform for artistic expression, the contest encourages participants to use their unique perspectives and convey their ideas to the world through visual art forms such as painting, photography, animation, design, or multimedia. Step onto the global stage through art!
Theme
The Future refers to the time from now; it could be tomorrow, next year, the next moment, or even the next century. The future embodies vision, imagination, and mystery. Unleash your creativity and use art to illustrate your future self or the world of tomorrow!
Age Groups:
Group A: age 5-8
Group B: age 9-12
Group C: age 13-17
Group D: age 18-23
Registration:
Feb – June 30, 2025
Open to everyone ages 5 – 23
$50 CAD per entry
Show your creativity!
There are no restrictions on the materials used to create the submissions, including but not limited to drawing, painting, illustration, cartooning, animation, short videos, photography, digital art, sculpture and installation art. Design pieces also qualify for submission, such as visual design, fashion design, interior design, user interaction design and architecture design, etc.
The size of 2D work such as painting and design should be no smaller than 20×30 cm and no larger than 40×55 cm. The size of 3D work such as sculpture and installation should be within 60×60×60cm. All photos should be taken in high definition. Please pay attention to the light when shooting, so as not to include shadows on the submitted photos. Do not include irrelevant objects or backgrounds in the picture. All submissions of any medium should be no smaller than 1MB. Online submission only. Participants may only submit one artwork each.
Certificates, Awards, and Prizes
$50 CAD per entry.
Prizes:
Grand Prize:
Winner Certificate, Exhibition Certificate, and CAD 500 each
Gold Award:
Winner Certificate, Exhibition Certificate, and CAD 100 each
Silver Award:
Winner Certificate, Exhibition Certificate, and CAD 50 each
Judging Panel:
The contest judging panel features a collaboration of national-level judges and university admissions officers from renowned institutions. In previous years, the expert panel has included members from Canada Council for the Arts; Deans, tenured professors, and admissions officers from institutions such as: University of British Columbia (UBC), School of Visual Arts (SVA), New York, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Ringling College of Art and Design, Alberta University of the Arts, Academy of Modern Art (AOMA); Distinguished professional artists and industry leaders. This panel ensures the highest standards of evaluation for creativity, skill, and artistic vision.
Competition Jury:
Gu Xiong
Gu Xiong is a Professor of Department of Art History, Visual Art, and Theory at the University of British Columbia, was the judge of the National Arts Council of Canada and a multimedia China/Canadian Contemporary artist. His works have been collected by the National Gallery of Canada, the National Art Museum of China and many other museums and individuals, and he has received many commissions from the United States and Canada to create a number of public artworks.
Andrew McDermott
Andrew McDermott is a well-known artist and the President and senior member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. He has taught at institutions such as Vancouver Film School, and Capilano University for over 20 years. He is the head instructor at Academy of Modern Art. He has been awarded national medals of art many times, and his works have won many top international awards. Andrew has also been a judge for many international art competitions. In 2019, he was invited to be the chairman of The 34th IAPS Juried Exhibition, the world’s most influential pastel contest. He is the only judge who has the right to decide the final 10 winners.
Will Colpoys
Will Colpoys (he/they) is the admission officer at School of Visual Arts and an animator with a BFA in Animation from the School of Visual Arts. They grew up with one foot in rural Upstate New York and the other in Southwest Florida before following their dreams in the Big City. Will is always eager for the opportunity to connect with other up-and-coming artists. Will is excited to be a judge again for this year’s competition!
Dr. Megan Smith
Dr. Megan Smith is an artist based in Kelowna, Canada. She is UBC 2022 Killam Laureate, and Associate Professor in New Media and Design at the University of British Columbia. Her practice-based research probes systems for delivering syndicated data through narrative structure and she often works with virtual and augmented reality, geo-location, live-feed installation, and performance as methods for storytelling. Her latest project – ‘All the Stars We Cannot See’ won an Honorary Mention at Ars Electronica 2022.
Joni Taylor
Joni Taylor is an artist, writer, instructor and Recruitment Officer at Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary, AB. Her work is highly influenced by social injustice movements, infused with tongue-in-cheek humour. Taylor values this trait in terms of making certain messages more palatable – which she employs in her graphic narratives, comics, and children’s books. Taylor received her MFA (2017) from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver, BC, and is now living and working in sunny Calgary, AB.
Post-Contest Activities:
A variety of post-competition activities are offered to broaden participants’ horizons, enhance their international experience, and further strengthen their personal profiles.
All participants are eligible to register for:
- Artwork Exhibition
- Art Tour
- Speaking opportunities at the Awards Ceremony
- Masterclass Art Workshops
- Face-to-face meetings with admissions officers from prestigious art schools
- Professionally curated solo exhibition
These certificates, awards, and activity experiences serve as valuable credentials for university applications.
Many past winners, through recommendations, have successfully gained admission to Ivy League schools and top international art institutions.
Canada Youth Visual Art Contest – Short Video Contest
Capture the heartbeat of your city, tell its untold stories, and ignite the light of art with your creativity! Whether it’s the bustling streets, the echoes of history, or your vision of the city’s future, use your lens to express your imagination and passion. Selected works will be featured on CYVAC and AOMA’s official platforms, with top creators earning recognition and prizes! Submit your video today and step onto the global stage of artistic expression.
Social Impact:
The contest has garnered strong support from government officials and various sectors of society. Over the years, the event has received significant attention and backing from the Prime Minister of Canada, Members of Parliament, Provincial Premiers, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office of British Columbia, provincial and municipal governments, mayors, and multiple foreign consulates in Vancouver. Additionally, leaders from community organizations, business sectors, and mainstream media have actively shown their support through congratulatory videos, letters of recognition, or by attending the award ceremonies in person.
Contest and Charity:
Igniting Dreams Through Art, Giving Back to Society Through Art
Over the past few years, the competition has raised over $50,000 CAD for charitable organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital Foundation.
In 2025, CYVAC will continue to unite children and youth worldwide through the power of art, working together to support charitable causes, create value, and give back to society!
Organizers:
Youth Initiative Vancouver
Youth Initiative Vancouver (YIV) is a non-profit organization registered by the government of BC, Canada. It is committed to providing multicultural exchanges and promoting cultural and arts education. Since its establishment, YIV has been dedicated to a plethora of activities, including initiating and supporting international art events, organizing educational and charitable activities, and building a cooperation platform between university and high school students from different countries.
Academy Of Modern Art
The Academy of Modern Art (AOMA) is an art institution based in Vancouver, Canada. It offers innovative and high-quality art education programs including Portfolio Preparation, University Application , Kid, Teen & Adult Visual Arts Programs. Academic courses including AP/SAT Maths and English upon request. AOMA helps outstanding students gain admission to their ideal universities, achieving a 100% university acceptance rate and high-value scholarships for eight consecutive years! Its instructor team includes experienced university professors, leading industry designers and visual artists.
The 2025 Canada Youth Visual Arts Contest invites youth from around the world to join us and showcase themselves through the power of art!
Supporting Organizations:
- University of British Columbia (UBC)
- School of Visual Arts (SVA)
- New York Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
- Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
- Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD)
- Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts)
- Ming Gallery of Art
- Canadian Community Service Association
- AWA Association
- 3MSpace
Registration & Payment:
$50 CAD per entry
Pay on registration form or use these methods:
A) E-transfer to [email protected]
B) Cash or Cheque dropped off or mailed to AOMA: 2408 W 41 Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2A7
C) Alipay & WeChat: use QR code.
Credit card payments can be made on our Registration Form directly.
If you would like to make a Group Registration or if you cannot fill in the information on the form or upload your artwork, please email [email protected].