The 2023 Canada Youth Visual Art Contest (CYVAC) is hosted by Youth Initiative Vancouver (YIV), and co-organized by Academy of Modern Art (AOMA). The contest aims to encourage multicultural communication and philanthropic endeavors and to discover outstanding art and design talents around the world.
In the past two years, we received 1832 inspiring entries from 20 countries and regions. The winning art and design pieces were selected by our jury members who include top university art professors, admissions officers, and internationally esteemed artists. Through fundraising and a charity sale featuring winning pieces, $32000 has been raised to benefit UNICEF and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation!
Prizes:
Grand prize winner ($500 Scholarship)
Gold prize winners ($100 Each)
Silver prize winners ($50 Each)
Outstanding Artwork Winner (Certificates)
Certificates:
Letter of congratulations signed by the BC Minister of State for Child Care; Award certificates; Exhibition certificates; Charity donation certificate if the winners’ artwork is sold in the charity sale; Charity Ambassador certificates for those who make special fundraising efforts. “Excellent Instructor” awards will be presented to the tutors whose students who win a “Silver Prize” or above. “Outstanding Organization” awards will be presented to organizations who submit 50 pieces or more.
Age Groups:
Group A: age 5-8
Group B: age 9-12
Group C: age 13-17
Group D: age 18-23
Registration:
Feb – April 30, 2023
Open to everyone ages 5 – 23
Theme: The World We Live In
We all live in the same world but perceive it in different ways. Our rich experiences have shaped our distinct perspectives. The world has manifested itself to each of us in a different and unique way. What does this diverse world look like to you? Pick up your tools, use your imagination, and share the wonderful world that you see with all your creativity!
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.
Registration & Payment
$30 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) Paypal – Click Here
D) 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].
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.
Maureen Garvin
Maureen Garvin is the Dean of the School of Foundation Studies and the School of Fine Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design. Her previous teaching experience includes Penn State, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia University, Trenton State College, and Temple University. Professor Garvin’s studio work includes large oil pastel and mixed media works on paper and canvas. Her work has been exhibited in Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia, as well as Beijing, and London. She has presented at FATE, SECAC, and Think Tank as well.
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!
Alessandra Torres
Alessandra Torres is the MICA International Admission Counselor and MICA sculpture faculty member. Torres’s performances, installations, and photographs have been exhibited nationally and internationally. Her work is included in numerous private and public art collections including the Art In Embassies Program and The DC Art Bank. She has participated in such prestigious residencies as The Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, and Vermont Studio Center. Alessandra received an MFA in Sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University.
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.
Kimberly White
Kimberly White is an associate dean of the admission office at Ringling College of Art & Design. She holds a master’s degree from the Royal College of Art in London and a bachelor’s from UCL- University College London. She is an arts education professional and fine artist from London, UK with over 20 years of international experience in art program leadership, curriculum design, higher education, and portfolio development. Kimberly has exhibited her own art internationally. She has reviewed thousands of college and youth portfolios and given critiques and presentations across the U.S. and the globe.
Host Organization:
Host Organizer:
Co-Organizer:
Supporting Organizations:
Charity Partner:
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation provide the
funds essential to ensuring that our hospitals and healthcare teams can deliver BC’s best, most specialized care for adults. We raise funds for VGH, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and Vancouver Community Health Services.
Donate to Vancouver General Hospital Foundation
To donate to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, you can choose the following donation methods:
1. Visit the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation + CYVAC Official Donation Website. VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation will email you the tax receipt after your donation.
2. Please click on the contest’s fundraising teams to make a donation. Currently, the fundraising groups are: Youth Initiative Vancouver, AOMA Family, Andrew Eva and Ricky Tan, and Sunrise Student Society.
Hope everyone can support them! More fundraising groups are welcome to join. The groups that have achieved the fundraising goals can receive an extraordinary “Charity Ambassador” certificate from the Competition Organizing Committee and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.
3. E-transfer to [email protected]
4. Write a cheque to YOUTH INITIATIVE VANCOUVER SOCIETY. The address is 2408 West 41 Ave, Vancouver, BC, V6M 2A7.
Please include your name and contact info along with your donation. Contact us at [email protected] or (778) 680-2408 if you would like a donation receipt.