Calling All Young Artists!
OCA-NY is excited to announce the launch of our 2026 Young Artist Contest. If you are a creative age 13–19, this is your platform to use your artistic voice, spark conversation, and inspire meaningful change in our community.
This Year’s Theme: Gentrification & Housing
Our neighborhoods are constantly changing. This year, we are inviting young creatives to explore how rising costs, displacement, and shifting urban landscapes impact our lives and heritage.
We invite you to submit artwork that reflects:
- Housing & Displacement — The real impact of rising costs and changing streets.
- Loss of Community vs. Building Community — What we lose, and how we come together to rebuild.
- Defending Our Roots & Cultural Identity — Honoring where we come from and keeping our culture alive.
Use your canvas, lens, or digital media to tell a powerful story!
How to Enter & Rules
Based on the provided document, here are the official contest rules and guidelines:
Contest Rules & Requirements
Eligibility & Attendance
- Age & Residency: Open to youth ages 13 to 19 who are residents of NYC.
- Event Attendance: Contestants must be able to attend the opening of the exhibit at 127 Walker Street on Thursday, August 13th from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM to be eligible for a prize.
Artwork Guidelines
- Originality: All art must be original. No AI-generated artwork will be accepted.
- Theme Connection: Art must be related to the slogan (“No Culture, No Community. Defend Its Roots”).
- Categories: You may submit poetry or visual art, but you can only win in one category.
- Accepted Formats: Drawings, paintings, collages, digital art, 3D art, sculpture, poetry, and video.
- Not Accepted: Photography, choreography, and songs.
Submission Specifications
- Size Limits (Visual Art): Must be no larger than 18 in × 24 in and no smaller than 8 in × 10 in.
- Length Limits:
- Videos: Maximum of 1 to 3 minutes long.
- Poetry: Minimum of 250 words and maximum of 500 words.
- Safety: No hazardous materials allowed (e.g., blades, glass, sharp objects, or flammable liquids).
- Artwork Description: Submissions must include a 3–5 sentence explanation (75 words max) describing how the piece relates to this year’s theme and slogan.
- Submission Form: A completed and signed submission form (including parent/guardian signature if under 18) must accompany the artwork.
Deadlines & How to Submit
Deadline: All submissions are due by Monday, August 10th at 12:00 PM (Noon).
- Digital & Video Submissions: Email to oca.nyart2026@gmail.com with the subject line “2026 HCPAP”.
- Physical Artwork Drop-off Locations:
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Manhattan: Immigration Social Services, 127 Walker Street, NY, NY
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Thurs, Aug 6 (12–5 PM) | Fri, Aug 7 (12–5 PM) | Sun, Aug 9 (12–5 PM) | Mon, Aug 10 (10 AM–12 PM)
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Queens: MinKwon Center, 133-29 41st Ave Ste 202, Flushing, NY
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Thurs, Aug 6 (10 AM–6 PM) | Fri, Aug 7 (10 AM–6 PM) | Mon, Aug 10 (10 AM–12 PM)
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Brooklyn: Raising Health, 5306 3rd Avenue, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11220
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Thurs, Aug 6 (10 AM–6 PM) | Fri, Aug 7 (10 AM–6 PM) | Sat, Aug 8 (10 AM–5 PM)
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Ready to share your vision? For more information, email: oca.nyart2026@gmail.com
