The International Kids’ Owl Art Contest is now open! This is a fun art competition for children and teens who love owls and art. It started years ago as a small coloring contest and has now grown into an international event connected to the Festival of Owls.
The goal of this contest is simple: to get young people involved in the Festival of Owls through art. The contest gives kids and teens a chance to share their creativity and ideas while learning about these amazing birds.
Judges will look for a few important things in the artwork. They want to see creative ideas, unusual perspectives, clear messages, and good use of colors and design. The skill of the artist will also matter, but sometimes the message is even more important than technique. Humor is welcome too!
Who can apply
- The contest is open to children and teens who are 18 years old or younger. Each person can only send in one piece of art, and it must be their own original work. No help from adults or AI is allowed.
- Schools can also take part by mailing a package of up to 50 entries together.
- Entries will be judged in four age groups: 0–5 years, 6–9 years, 10–14 years, and 15–18 years. This makes sure that kids compete fairly with others their age.
Application requirements
- The artwork must be a two-dimensional picture of an owl, drawn or painted on paper.
- All artwork sent in will become the property of the International Owl Center. They won’t be returned.
- Digital art is allowed too, but it must be printed out and mailed. No plant or animal materials should be part of the artwork. All art must be something that can be mailed and hung up.
- A special form must be taped to both the front and back of the artwork so it can be labeled correctly.
Application deadline
Applications are open till January 15, 2026. To begin, click HERE.
The International Kids’ Owl Art Contest is an art competition for children and teens with a passion for owls and art, held as part of the Festival of Owls.
The contest is designed to encourage young artists to express creativity and introduce them to the world of owls. Judges focus on creativity, perspective, clarity of message, color use, and artistic skill, with special consideration for humor.
Open to individuals aged 18 and under, participants may submit one original piece of two-dimensional owl art, unaided by adults or AI.
Schools may submit up to 50 entries collectively. Submissions are judged in age categories: 0-5, 6-9, 10-14, and 15-18 years to ensure fairness.
Artwork can be digitally or traditionally created but must be delivered as a physical print without any organic materials.
All submitted artworks are retained by the International Owl Center, and a form must be attached to the artwork for proper identification. The application deadline is January 15, 2026.
