2026 Young Artists Competition

How I See America’s 250th | Inspired by the American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will launch its first Young Artists’ Competition on February 19, 2026. The competition titled, How I See America’s 250th, will be open to all elementary students, 3-5 grades; middle school students, 6-8 grades; and high school students, 9-12th grades in Connecticut. Submissions are due by May 19, 2026. The competition will award cash and other prizes to the top two artworks per grade in addition to the opportunity of showing the winning artworks at the Mansion.

Students will be tasked with depicting their own interpretation of the American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence as it relates to the ideals of the nation’s founders and the path forward as they see these ideals being realized today. Local artist and educator, Lynn Sadlon, along with the Museum educational staff will be selecting artwork for each grade level that best reflects the themes of the competition.

Students may choose any medium listed including:

Watercolor
Pen & Ink
Magic Markers
Mixed Media
Digital Art (your own creation, no AI generated images)

Requirements will include:

Artwork celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and/or the American Revolution in Connecticut
work focusing on the role of Connecticut, its people, sites, and historical context as it relates to the 1770s and the heroes of the American Revolution.

Important dates:

Thursday, February 19: Submission period begins
Tuesday, May 19: Final day to submit artwork
June 15: Winners will be notified
Sunday, June 28: Awards ceremony at the Mansion
Summer 2026: Exhibit Dates TBD

Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Policies:

Image Release: Submission of your work to the show means that you are willing to have your work reproduced virtually and in print for any and all promotional materials for the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum.
Liability: Entries will be handled with all possible care, but artists submitting work agree to hold harmless the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, their agents and employees from any claim of damage or theft that might arise from any cause whatsoever.

By submitting your work, you agree to competition requirements and Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Policies.

Submissions will be accepted via our website beginning February 19 and open through May 19, 2026. Artwork submitted before February 19 or after May 19 will not be considered.

2026 Young Artists Form | How I See America’s 250th

Artist

Name(Required)

First Last

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Address(Required)

Street Address City State ZIP Code

Grade(Required)

Grades 3-5

Grades 6-8

Grades 9-12

School Information

School Name(Required)

Teacher's Name(Required)

School Address(Required)

Street Address City State ZIP Code

Parent / Guardian

Parent Name(Required)

First Last

Parent Phone(Required)

Parent Email(Required)

Artwork

Please name the uploaded file with your last name and abbreviated title. Example: jones-greengarden.jpg. Recommended Image File Specs: High resolution 300dpi jpg | Minimum of 5×7 inches | Maximum upload size = 10MB.

Title(Required)

Medium(Required)

Size (Width x Height)(Required)

Brief Description of Work and its Purpose (How it depicts the theme of the contest)(Required)

File

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Image: Plan of the Colony of Connecticut, Moses Park,1766 (Library of Congress collection) + Declaration of Independence: July 4th. United States, Currier, between 1835 and 1856 (Library of Congress collection)