youthcanvas

unleash your k-creativity

call for entries
참가 신청

about youthcanvas

The YouthCanvas contest is a celebration of the remarkable strength and depth of the K-Art scene. Hosted in collaboration with creative brand NovaCanvas, the contest invites young Korean creatives to produce impactful works that dare to see things a little differently. It is held twice per year in May and August, offering an essential platform to explore meaningful themes, boost professional credibility, and reach an international audience of art enthusiasts, collectors, and industry elites.

YouthCanvas 공모전 안내

meet our judges

Initial entries will be reviewed and shortlisted by the VNV team. Every entry on the shortlist will be scored by our panel of experts, each of whom is a distinguished member of the creative community. Entries are evaluated using our trademark Five Vibes scoring system, a framework that emphasizes authenticity, creativity, emotional impact, technique, and conceptual depth in equal measure.

may round 2026

Contest Opens May 2026
BRIEF
HOW TO ENTER
BENEFITS
KEY DATES
TERMS & CONDITIONS

My Culture

We invite you to explore how culture shapes the ways you see, feel, create, and connect. You can draw from the traditions you grew up with or the new influences that have met you along your path. Show how culture appears in your daily life, your communities, or the wider world.

POSSIBLE DIRECTIONS

Everyday Culture: Capture the small but meaningful details; the language, food, rituals, or spaces that shape your sense of home and belonging.

Cross-Cultural Encounters: Reflect on moments when different worlds met in your life and how these experiences reshaped your perspective.

Tradition & Transformation: Explore a tradition you cherish, question, or reinvent, showing how culture evolves across generations.

Community & Collective Memory: Highlight the memories, stories, or shared experiences that define your community and reveal who “we” are.

Culture in Motion: Respond to the cultural shifts of today, from tech and global exchange to new creative or social movements guiding the future.

Wait for the call

The contest opens on MAY 1, 2026.

Open to middle and high school students of Korean origin aged 19 or under (including homeschoolers) in Korea and abroad.

Fill out the application form

Click the CALL FOR ENTRIES link when live. Then enter your details, select your chosen category, and provide additional information as required. If submitting a multi-person entry, one person should complete the entry form and provide the details of all additional team members

VISUAL ART ENTRIES

  1. Drawing & Painting
  2. Ceramic & Sculpture
  3. Fashion & Costume Design
  4. Graphic Design & 3D Art

FILM ENTRIES

  1. Long-form Videos (over 10 min)
  2. Mid-form Videos (1-10 min)
  3. Short-form Videos (under 1 min)

Must include an artwork or film description (150 words) that considers:

  1. What inspired your piece?
  2. How does it relate to the contest brief?
  3. Describe your creative practice.
  4. What message(s) do you hope to deliver to your audience?

WRITTEN ENTRIES

  1. Screenwriting & Playwriting (3000 words or less)
  2. Short Stories & Narrative Essays (2500 words or less)

Must include a summary of the text (250 words).

Upload your work

All visual entries must be high resolution for optimal viewing (JPEG or PNG format)

All film entries must be submitted as a YouTube link.

All written entries must be submitted in PDF format.

Pay for your entry

Entry fees are 200,000 Korean Won per entry (including VAT). Multi-person entry fees are 300,000 Korean Won per entry.

Your application will not be processed until the payment is received.

Entry fees payable to:

Bank: Woori Bank

Account Number: 1005-704-776495

Account Holder: NovaCanvas Inc.

Bank Address: 416, Heungan-daero, Dongan-gu, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea 14063.

SWIFT Code: HVBKKRSEXXX

It is possible to submit multiple entries across different categories, but each entry must be submitted separately.

Check the results

All winners will be informed by email prior to the official announcement on the website. They will also receive their official certificates at this time.

The Winners Showcase publication will be released annually on November 1. It will include all the winners from the May and August contest rounds.

Classification of winners
  • Gold Award (2)
  • Silver Award (2)
  • Bronze Award (2)
  • Runner-up (3)
  • Honorable Mentions (3)
Social Media Features

Gold Award winners will be featured on our VNV Instagram account, including a permanent, contest-specific Instagram Highlight.

Rising Stars Membership

Gold award winners will become VNV Rising Stars, receiving a permanent Rising Stars member page and digital lookbook featuring a selection of their artworks. They will also receive guidance from the VNV network as well as a chance to be featured in global VNV events and initiatives in the future.

Winners Showcase

All winners will be featured in the prestigious YouthCanvas Winners Showcase. Distributed digitally to major art and cultural institutions worldwide, a spot in this publication serves as a unique networking opportunity and means of professional development.

Certificates

All winners will receive an official digital certificate in honor of their achievement.

MAY 1

Call For Entries

MAY 31

Contest Closes

JUN 1

Judging Period Begins

JUL 1

Results Announced

1. Eligibility

1.1. The YouthCanvas contest is open to both middle and high school students as well as homeschoolers. Entrants may be based in South Korea or overseas. To qualify, you must meet one of the following requirements at the time of submission.

1.1.1. Tier i: An individual of Korean origin who is under the age of 14.

1.1.2. Tier ii: An individual of Korean origin who is between the ages of 15 and 19. (Entrants over the age of 19 who are currently attending high school also qualify for Tier ii.)

1.2. By entering the contest, you accept the terms and conditions presented here (subject to change). Entrants are encouraged to review the official contest page specified below for any updates.

https://vibesnvistas.com/youthcanvas

1.3. By entering the contest, you permit Vibes and Vistas (VNV) to receive and review all your registration data. You also permit VNV to collect, process, store, and use your registration data for the purposes of running this contest.

2. Submission Guidelines

2.1. You must submit your entries via the call for entries link when it is live on the official contest page. You must also pay the entry fee(s), complete the submission form, and attach all required files before the deadline to be considered for the contest.

2.2. Entrants agree to adhere to the following submission guidelines:

2.2.1. Entrants must be the sole copyright owners and creators of the entries submitted. All entries must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, contract rights, or other intellectual property rights of any third person or entity.

2.2.2. Entrants must not submit entries that contain any offensive, threatening, defamatory, or pornographic content.

2.2.3. Entrants must not submit any form of AI-generated content.

2.2.4. VNV reserves the right to disqualify entrants who do not adhere to the submission guidelines specified above.

3. Judging

3.1. All entries will be pre-screened by our VNV editors. Entries will then be reviewed by our judging panel who will select the winners. The decision of the judging panel is final.

3.2. The judging panel will evaluate entries based on the VNV Five Vibes scoring system, taking into account authenticity, creativity, emotional impact, narrative/conceptual depth, & technique.

4. Copyright

4.1. By entering the contest, winners grant VNV the non-exclusive right to display, reproduce, and distribute your submitted entries and additionally submitted files in the form of diverse content including the YouthCanvas Winners Showcase, across the VNV platform including the official VNV website, for the purposes of contest promotion.

4.2. All entrants retain full copyright and ownership of their submitted artworks and texts, and credit will be attributed to each entrant whenever VNV exhibits, screens, or publishes their entries.

4.3. The full name of each winner, runner-up, and honorable mention will be published on the VNV website.

5. Awards

5.1. All winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions will receive their awards in the weeks following the announcement of the contest results.

5.2. Winners agree to provide additional information, artworks, and texts in order to be featured in the YouthCanvas Winners Showcase.

5.3. Winners will be notified via the contact method they provided at the time of submission.

6. Payments

6.1. Each submission to the YouthCanvas Contest requires a non-refundable entry fee of 200,000 Korean Won, or 300,000 for multi-person entries (including VAT). Payment of the entry fee does not guarantee selection as a winner, finalist, or recipient of any prize.

6.2. Entrants are permitted to submit multiple entries to the contest. Each entry must be submitted via a separate entry form and accompanied by a separate payment of the applicable entry fee.

6.3. Since this contest is open to minors, all entrants must provide the name and contact details of their legal guardian on the entry form. Payment of the entry fee must be made by the legal guardian on behalf of the entrant, using a valid payment method authorized for such transactions.

6.4. All payments are made to the official contest organizer, NovaCanvas, a registered business entity in South Korea. NovaCanvas is responsible for the collection and processing of all contest-related payments.

6.5. Payments must be made shortly after submission. Entries will not be processed until the payment is received. Please be sure to include the name of the entrant in the reference section of the payment.

6.6. Having paid the entry fee, it is possible to request a PDF invoice by contacting our team at: youthcanvasglobal@gmail.com.

7. Limitation of Liability

7.1. Entrants acknowledge that NovaCanvas, VNV, and all future contest partners are not responsible or liable for:

7.1.1. Technical malfunctions, errors, or other issues that may affect the submission process or contest outcome.

7.1.2. Damages or losses of any kind arising from an individual’s participation in the contest.

8. Governing Law

8.1. This contest is governed by the laws of the Republic of South Korea. Any disputes arising from or in connection with the contest will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in the Republic of South Korea

9. Contact Details

9.1. All correspondence pertaining to this contest must be made via the designated contest email address, youthcanvasglobal@gmail.com.

BRIEF
HOW TO ENTER
BENEFITS
KEY DATES
TERMS & CONDITIONS

“What matters to me…”

This summer, we invite you to express that which holds meaning in your lives. From personal values and cultural roots, to relationships, dreams, and pressing social issues, create authentically and leave your mark.

POSSIBLE DIRECTIONS

Personal Identity: Explore how your background, heritage, or unique life experiences shape who you are and what you create.

Emotions & Relationships: Use art to capture the essence of love, friendship, family, or personal challenges that have touched your journey.

Cultural Connections: Consider how your identity, whether experienced at home or abroad, has influenced your perspective and artistic vision.

Global & Social Issues: Share your voice on topics that resonate, from environmental concerns to justice, equality, and the world you want to see.

Dreams & Aspirations: Bring your hopes for the future to life, showcasing how you envision yourself, your art, and your place in the world.

Wait for the call

The contest opens on AUGUST 1, 2025.

Fill out the application form

Click the “CALL FOR ENTRIES” link when live. Then enter your details, select your chosen category, and provide additional information as required.

ART-BASED ENTRIES

  1. Drawing & Painting
  2. 3D Art (including Ceramics)
  3. Graphic Design
  4. Fashion & Costume Design
  5. 5-min Film

Must include an artwork description (150 words) that considers the following:

  1. What inspired your piece?
  2. How does it relate to the contest brief?
  3. Describe your material choices and your creative practice.
  4. What message(s) do you hope to deliver to your audience?

WRITING-BASED ENTRIES

  1. Screenwriting (3000 words or less)
  2. Playwriting (3000 words or less)
  3. Short Stories (2500 words or less)
  4. Narrative Essays (800 words or less)

Must include a summary of the text (250 words).

Upload your work

All visual entries must be high resolution for optimal viewing (JPEG or PNG format)

All short film entries must be submitted as a YouTube link.

All written entries must be submitted in PDF format.

Pay for your entry

Fees are 200,000 Korean Won per entry (including VAT)

You must pay the entry fee after submitting your work. Your application will not be processed until the payment is received. Entry fees are payable to:

Bank: Woori Bank

Account Number: 1005-704-776495

Account Holder: NovaCanvas Inc.

Bank Address: 416, Heungan-daero, Dongan-gu, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea 14063.

SWIFT Code: HVBKKRSEXXX

It is possible to submit multiple entries across different categories, but each entry must be submitted separately.

Check the results

All winners will be informed by email.

A separate announcement will be made on the VNV website.

Prizes will be distributed in the months following the announcement.

Classification of winners
  • Gold Awards: 2 recipients
  • Silver Awards: 3 recipients
  • Bronze Awards: 4 recipients
  • Runners-up: 5 recipients
  • Honorable Mentions: 10 recipients
Social Features

Winners will be featured on our VNV Instagram account, including a permanent, contest-specific Instagram Highlight.

Winners’ Showcase

Winners will be permanently featured in exhibition format on the VNV website.

Winners’ Catalog

Winners will be featured in the prestigious YouthCanvas Winners’ Catalog. Distributed to major art and cultural institutions in Korea and around the world, a spot in our catalog serves as a unique networking opportunity and means of professional development.

Mentorship

All Gold Winners will receive exclusive guidance from a select group of established VNV transnational artists.

AUG 1

Call For Entries

AUG 31

Contest Closes

SEP 1

Judging Period Begins

OCT 1

Results Announced

1. Eligibility

1.1. To qualify to enter YouthCanvas Contests, you must meet one of the following requirements at the time of submission.
With inclusivity in mind, the contest is open to both middle and high school students as well as homeschoolers. Entrants may be based in South Korea or overseas.

1.1.1. Tier i: An individual of Korean origin who is under the age of 14.

1.1.2. Tier ii: An individual of Korean origin who is between the ages of 15 and 19. Entrants over the age of 19 who are currently attending high school also qualify.

1.2. By entering the contest, you accept the terms and conditions presented here. Please note that terms and conditions are subject to change. Participants are encouraged to review the official contest page for any updates.

1.3. Entries must be submitted by the deadline specified on the contest URL: https://vibesnvistas.com/youthcanvas

1.4. By entering the contest, you permit VNV to receive and review all your registration data. You also permit VNV to collect, process, store, and use your registration data for the purposes of running this contest.

2. Submission Guidelines

2.1. You must submit your entries via the official call for entries URL. You must also pay the entry fee(s), complete the submission form, and attach all required files before the deadline to be considered for the contest.

2.2. Participants agree to adhere to the following submission guidelines:

2.2.1. Participants must be the sole copyright owners and creators of the entries submitted. All entries must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, contract rights, or any other intellectual property rights of any third person or entity.

2.2.2. Participants must not submit entries that contain any offensive, threatening, defamatory, or pornographic content.

2.2.3. Participants must not submit any form of AI-generated content.

2.2.4. VNV reserves the right to disqualify participants who do not adhere to the submission guidelines.

3. Judging

3.1. All entries will be pre-screened by our VNV editors. Entries will then be reviewed by our judging panel who will select the winners. The decisions of the judging panel are final.

3.2. The judging panel will evaluate entries based on the YouthCanvas 5 Vibes Grading System, taking into account authenticity, creativity, emotional impact, narrative/conceptual depth, & technique.

4. Copyright

4.1. By entering the contest, you grant VNV the non-exclusive right to display, reproduce, and distribute your submitted entries in the YouthCanvas Winners’ Catalog, on the official VNV website, and for the purposes of contest promotion.

4.2. All participants retain full copyright and ownership of their submitted artworks and texts, and credit will be attributed to each participant whenever VNV exhibits, screens, or publishes their entries.

4.3. The full name of each winner, runner-up, and honorable mention will be published on the VNV website.

5. Prizes

5.1. All winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions will receive their prizes in the months following the announcement of the contest results.

5.2. Winners may need to provide additional information, artworks, and texts in order to be featured in the YouthCanvas Winners’ Catalog.

5.3. Winners will be notified via the contact method they provided at the time of submission.

6. Payments

6.1. Each submission to the YouthCanvas Contest requires a non-refundable entry fee of 200,000 Korean Won (including VAT). Payment of the entry fee does not guarantee selection as a winner, finalist, or recipient of any prize.

6.2. Entrants are permitted to submit multiple entries to the contest. Each entry must be submitted with a separate completed entry form and accompanied by a separate payment of the applicable entry fee.

6.3. Since this contest is open to minors, all entrants must provide the name and contact details of their legal guardian on the entry form. Payment of the entry fee must be made by the legal guardian on behalf of the entrant, using a valid payment method authorized for such transactions.

6.4. All payments are made to the official contest organizer, NovaCanvas, a registered business entity in South Korea. NovaCanvas is responsible for the collection and processing of all contest-related payments.

6.5. Payments must be made shortly after submission. Entries will not be processed until the payment is received.

6.6. Having paid the entry fee, it is possible to request a PDF invoice by contacting our team at: youthcanvasglobal@gmail.com.

7. Limitation of Liability

7.1. Participants acknowledge that NovaCanvas, VNV, and all contest partners are not responsible or liable for:

7.1.1. Technical malfunctions, errors, or other issues that may affect the submission process or contest outcome.

7.1.2. Damages or losses of any kind arising from an individual’s participation in the contest.

8. Governing Law

8.1. This contest is governed by the laws of the Republic of South Korea. Any disputes arising from or in connection with the contest will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in the Republic of South Korea

9. Contact Details

9.1. All correspondence pertaining to this contest must be made via the designated contest email address, youthcanvasglobal@gmail.com.

past winners