• Students may submit one work of art.
• Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
• A fully completed submission form and an artist statement of no more than 100 words must accompany the artwork.
• Submissions accepted online only.
• Must be a Santa Clara County High School student. Public, private, and homeschoolers are all welcome to apply.
• Create an original work of art in response to this year’s theme, and write an accompanying artist’s statement.
• Artwork must be an original work of art, free of plagiarism, that is not copied or based off work by another artist
• Artwork is accepted in the following categories: Drawing, Digital Art, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, & Video/Animation.

DRAWING
Any two dimensional piece created on a flat surface using dry media

DIGITAL ART
Any composition that is rendered using computer software

MIXED MEDIA
Any composition that incorporates multiple mediums on one surface wet and/or dry.

PAINTING
Any two dimensional piece that uses watercolor, acrylic, or oil on a flat surface.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Photo process that utilizes either a digital or analog camera.

PRINTMAKING
Works created using relief, intaglio, planographic, or stencil printmaking process.

SCULPTURE
Any three dimensional piece that is created using clay, bronze, wood, glass, paper, etc.

VIDEO/ANIMATION
Any artwork that requires a digital screen to view.

Submissions are accepted based on the following criteria:

• Significant and thoughtful investigation of the theme. 
• Imaginative communication of ideas.  
• Meaningful use of materials.
• Demonstrates technical skill and artistic merit.
• Artist statement is well articulated.

Each year NUMU awards $10,000 in scholarships and prizes to exhibiting artists. A panel of guest judges, who are accomplished in their own right as artists, educators and art historians, distribute the awards as a team. Students have the opportunity to win the following awards:

• In each artistic category:
• 1st Place
• 2nd Place
• Judge’s Recognition
• A People’s Choice Award, determined by votes from the public throughout the exhibition.
• An overall Best in Show award which includes a $5,000 educational scholarship.

• Judges will use this image to judge your artwork. Ensure that it is rotated and sized according to the way you want the judges to view your piece.
• If your artwork is accepted we will use this image in our exhibition catalog. Please ensure that your image is high quality:
• no glare
• well lit
• cropped to include your full artwork
• All files must be labeled as follows "Artist Last Name_ Artist First Name_Artwork Title" (Doe_Jane_TreeOfLife.jpg, for example)
• Images must be in .jpg format.
• Images should be sized at a minimum of 1250 pixels on the shortest side with an image quality of at least 300 dpi.
• Final .jpg file must be less than 5mb.
• Video/Animation submissions must be 2 minutes or shorter, and exported as .mp4. Short .gif files must be looped and exported to follow Video/Animation requirements.
• An individual artwork with multiple components (diptych, triptych, series) will be considered as one submission and must be submitted as a composite (single) file.

Is there a size restriction for my original (physical) piece?
There are no size restrictions.

How many pieces can I submit?
Each student may only submit one work in one medium category of their choice.

Can I make a change or correction to my submission?
Unfortunately, no. Once the form has been submitted, there will be no opportunity to edit. Please make sure all files and information are correct before submitting.

Can I submit an artwork created with multiple people as a group?
Email artnow@numulosgatos.org about your project to discuss the specifics of your idea.

Can I use AI in my artwork?
NUMU acknowledges that AI (artificial intelligence) is now a part of media and may be used as an artistic tool. AI generated submissions without artistic manipulation will not be accepted. AI may be applied meaningfully as part of an artist’s process to express an original concept conceived by the artist. If AI is included, students should acknowledge it in their artist statement. Please reach out if you have any specific questions.

Can I add to my piece after I have been accepted as an exhibiting artist?
Making changes to the piece may jeopardize artwork, as it was judged in the original state it was submitted. Slight modifications such as varnishing a painting or fixing something that has broken are acceptable and encouraged.

When will I know if my work was accepted into the exhibition?
Accepted artists will be listed on the website at a designated date in February. Refer to the exhibition page for specific date. All students who submitted will receive an email notification shortly after the website announcement.

If my artwork was selected for the exhibition, how do I prepare it to be displayed?
Detailed instructions are sent out to all exhibiting artists via email on how to prepare your artwork for display for each medium category.

How will my digital illustration be displayed?
It must be printed to the size you specify in your submission form, and be ready to hang for installation.

When will I need to drop off my artwork to NUMU?
Students whose artwork is juried into the exhibition will need to drop-off their artwork during designated dates in March. Refer to the exhibition page for specific dates. All artworks need to be received ready-to-be-installed and properly wrapped. Exhibiting artists will be emailed detailed information on the drop-off process and artwork preparation requirements.

I am not able to drop-off/pick-up my artwork during the designated dates, what do I do?
Email artnow@numulosgatos.org and we will coordinate a time with you.

How long will my artwork be on display?
Artworks will be displayed for the entire duration of the exhibition, from opening day to closing day, and cannot be removed early. For specific dates, refer to the exhibition page. Please note that works will remain at NUMU from the time of drop-off to the scheduled pick-up dates. Accepted students will receive detailed instructions on all dates and requirements.