Youth with Refugees Art Contest for Students and Youth

The theme of the 2021 art contest is “Together through sport”. It sheds light on the power of sport to bring people together and create a sense of hope.

This year, you can send an illustration and enter #dreamball design contest. The best designs will be turned into footballs made by an ethical manufacturing company and sold to support sporting activities for refugees!

Eligibility

If you are between 10 and 30 years old, this art contest is your chance to use your creativity for a good cause. You don’t need to be a professional artist. Anyone can be creative in their own way. Young refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless and internally displaced people are most welcome to join the contest.

Prize

If you win, your creation will be ANIMATED and shared on our platforms. This is a chance to bring your art to life – whatever your favourite style is – and get it in front of our 8 million followers. You will also receive a special prize from UNHCR and various other goodies.

What is the theme?

The overall theme is “together through sport”. For all of us in this turbulent year, sport has proven itself vital to restore physical and mental health, inspire and energize us, and create solidarity as we team up to beat COVID-19. Sport also helps those who face the hardest possible times in their lives to rebuild their futures. You can use your talents to illustrate the power of sport to bring people together.

Here are some things to think about to inspire you:

Sport brings hope. Sport is a great way to heal after going through difficult times. It helps with our mental health during the pandemic. It helps refugees recover from the experience of war and persecution. Learn more.

Sport fosters inclusion. Sport is a great way to bring people together. When young refugees find safety in a new country, playing with others in the community helps them make friends and feel like they belong.

Sport inspires. We all love to watch our favourite athletes. Did you know that there is a Refugee Olympic Team and a Refugee Paralympic Team? For the second time in history, they will compete during the Games in Tokyo this summer! Learn more.

How will your art be judged?

For the general competition, your art will be judged based on its creativity as well as how effectively it conveys its message. For the #dreamball design contest, abstract interpretations are welcome!

How does it work?

You can draw by hand or on a computer or tablet. If you draw by hand, please scan or take a good quality picture of your drawing. We accept drawings in pdf, jpeg and png formats.

For the general competition, send us a drawing or a comic illustrating the theme, in the format of your choice.

For the #dreamball design competition, use the ball design template and draw within the two frames. If you cannot print or use the template, draw the pentagon and hexagon shapes by hand. Try to use a maximum of 3 different colors including white. Feel free to draw more abstract designs.

When is the deadline?

The deadline is 25 June, but you may share your creations as early as possible, as the organisers aim to publish the best ones regularly on their platforms!