collier county high school art competition and show – 2026 Theme -“Florida History and Heritage”
Thank you all for taking the time to share your art with Marco Island Center for the Arts “Florida History and Heritage” 2026 Collier County-wide High School Competition. We truly got some amazing entries this year and we hope to continue to grow this competition each year.
Tara O’Neill Judged our entries and selected the following winners:
1st – Chapin L., Salt Water Fly Fishing
2nd- Lydia M, Serenity
3rd – Arianni E., Great White Egret
HM – Ashley A., Florida Means Family
HM – Armani P., Ancient Steps
PEOPLES CHOICE WINNER
with 436 votes
Ashley A. “Florida Means Family”
Our judge Tara O’Neill did want to send the following letter to each and every participant in this year’s competition:
To the Participants of the Collier County High School Art Competition:
Jurying this show is the hardest thing I do every year, this year especially. Viewing a collection of 40 exemplary works, experiencing the imagination, heart and effort – and only 4 awards to offer? It is never ever easy. You have taken your art seriously, and so do I. It is my honor.
I want to stress that participation in this show needs to go on your resume – award or not. If the persistence and determination of the artists I’ve viewed match their ability, then people should know that you did what was necessary to submit to a quality, county-wide, art show. It counts. Everyone in this show has shown creativity, discipline, and courage. It is my privilege to applaud you all.
That being said, here’s a note on submitting images of artwork. Make your submissions as best as they can be; that means take a high resolution photo, crop any unnecessary background, check your lighting. Sometimes all that makes a tie-breaker is that the artist made the effort to submit a clean presentation.
Mostly, PLEASE keep creating. This world dearly needs more creative thinkers. For those of you not graduating, I expect to see more of your work next year!
I send you all my best regards and sincere esteem,
Tara O’Neill
In 2020, the Marco Island Center for the Arts annual high school art show and competition moved to virtual platforms due to COVID and the closure of the Art Center. On account of these exigent circumstances, the artwork was collected and displayed on both Facebook and Instagram. Instead of professionally judging the work, the Art Center had people vote for their favorite piece and the People’s Choice-winning artist received a gift certificate. This online presence led to substantial activity and community participation.
Participation and engagement significantly increased by moving the art show to social media platforms and our website (Marco Island Center for the Arts Facebook and marcoisalndart.org). The virtual art show brought together teens, parents and assorted family and friends of all ages who voted and commented on the artwork.
Building on the discoveries from the 2020 project, the Art Center invites high school students in Collier County to submit images (JPEGS only) of up to 2 pieces of artwork in any medium. Digitally animated work will also be accepted.
The deadline for submissions will be April 16, 2026, at 11:59 pm. The submissions will be judged by a professional artist.
On April 20 (late afternoon) all the artwork will go on Marco Island Center for the Arts website at www.marcoislandart.org THIS IS THE ONLY LOCATION TO ACCESS VOTING for the People’s Choice award, which will be available for voting on this page until 5 pm on April 24, 2026.
The Judge’s Awards and People’s Choice Award will be announced on the Art Center’s Facebook, Instagram, and website on Friday, April 27, 2026. Prizewinners will need to submit a thank you to the Art Center donors by May 8, 2026, and 1st and 2nd prizewinners will need to submit a W-9 form to receive payment by May 15, 2026.
To submit your work for the High School Competition and Art Show, please email the application with the images of your artwork to patricia@marcoislandart.org. To download the required application, please click this link
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be high school students in grades 9-12 and age 19 or under who reside in Collier County, Florida. They may also be homeschooled.
AWARDS
- $1,000 1st Place
- $750 2nd Place
- $500 3rd Place
- $100 Honorable Mention (2 awarded)
- $100 People’s Choice award for top voted piece of work on marcoislandart.org
The Art Department at the school of the 1st Place winner will receive $1,000 to support their art programs and the cultivation of future young artists. If the 1st place winner is homeschooled, the Art Department Award will go to the Art Department of the 2nd place winner. This award will only be given to the Art Department of a High School.
ENTRIES - Images (JPEGS preferred) of any artwork set forth below:
- Paintings in all media: Oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastels, batik
- Drawings: Charcoal, pencil, pen and ink.
- Graphic Art: Two and/or three dimensional art such as: pottery, glass, sculpture and jewelry.
- Digital Art
- Photography, including digitally altered, as long as it is indicated as such.
- Mixed media, including collage and/or found objects.
BASIS OF AWARDS QUALITY – TECHNIQUE – ORIGINALITY
ENTRY RESTRICTIONS
- Each piece submitted must be original and be completed entirely by the applicant.
- Kit work; copy work; prepared outline; pottery from molds; manufactured components are NOT Gicleés are NOT acceptable. Prints from a printmaking process are acceptable. Mixed media of all types is acceptable, as is digitally enhanced photos, only if it is stated, and other types of computer art.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant may submit up to (2) TWO Images ( JPEGS preferred) of PIECES OF ARTWORK. Judging will be on individual work, not on the body of work.
SUBMITTING APPLICATION
SUBMITTING ART WORK
All entries (artwork) must be submitted to Marco Island Center for the Arts with a completed application by Sunday April 21st, 2025 by 11:59 pm.
NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS
The deadline for submissions will be April 16, 2026, at 11:59 pm. The submissions will be judged by a professional artist.
On April 20 (late afternoon) all the artwork will go on Marco Island Center for the Arts website at www.marcoislandart.org THIS IS THE ONLY LOCATION TO ACCESS VOTING for the People’s Choice award, which will be available for voting on this page until 5 pm on April 24, 2026.
The Judge’s Awards and People’s Choice Award will be announced on the Art Center’s Facebook, Instagram, and website on Friday, April 27, 2026. Prizewinners will need to submit a thank you to the Art Center donors by May 8, 2026, and 1st and 2nd prizewinners will need to submit a W-9 form to receive payment by May 15, 2026.
EXHIBITION
Artwork submitted by all of the applicants will be exhibited on the Art Center’s website and will be included in a video that will be kept on the Art Center’s YouTube page.