I have always wanted my art to service my people — to reflect us, to relate to us, to stimulate us, to make us aware of our potential. We have to create an art for liberation and for life” – Elizabeth Catlett
EarthLab is excited to announce our first-ever UW Undergraduate Art Competition! This is your opportunity to participate in one of the original forms of human expression through art by creating an original piece of art that answers the question: What does environmental and/or climate justice mean to you and your community? Undoubtedly, each of our unique cultures, identities and historical experiences ensure there is no singular answer to this question.
We believe in the authority and co-existence of both research and diverse knowledge and storytelling systems which exist – including shared and lived experiences, oral histories, art, culture, in any setting within and outside academia. Diverse voices must be heard to truly understand just what environmental and climate justice means to not only us as individuals, but the very communities we belong to and steward.
Whether you express your perspective through a painting, digital art, sketch, or drawing, we invite you to submit your art and start a dialogue connected to your interpretation of one or both of the following definitions:
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: All people and communities have the right to equal environmental protection under the law, and the right to live, work and play in communities that are safe, healthy and free of life-threatening conditions. Source: Columbia University. Definition attributed to Robert Bullard.
CLIMATE JUSTICE: To ensure communities, individuals and governments have substantive legal and procedural rights relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment and the means to take or cause measures to be taken within their national legislative and judicial systems, where necessary, at regional and international levels, to mitigate sources of climate change and provide for adaptation to its effects in a manner that respects human rights. Source: International Bar Association
The winning art piece will be featured in tandem with an upcoming data visualization (known as the EarthLab Network Snapshot Project) in 2024. Together, they will support efforts to share EarthLab’s impact in engaging diverse communities in environmental and climate change research and training.
Art submissions are due by 05/01/24. Winners will be announced in mid-May 2024.
Submit today
The details:
Submission Materials
- Personal contact information
- Biographical statement (200 words max)
- Art piece description (300 words max)
- Art piece (physical or digital representation)
Submit today
Art piece submission guidance – please indicate how you will submit your piece on the google form. We must receive the art piece in person by the 05/01/24 due date. You can choose one of the following options for submission:
- File upload
- Drop off in person at EarthLab office:
909 Boat Street
Seattle, WA 98105 (secure building, please coordinate with EarthLab)
- Mail to EarthLab office:
University of Washington
909 Boat Street
Box 355674
Seattle, WA 98105
Selection Criteria
Submissions will be reviewed based on the following criteria:
- Biographical statement – must be submitted for your art piece to be considered.
- Art piece description – must be submitted for your art piece to be considered.
- The inclusion of environmental and/or climate justice as an integral theme of the art piece
- The inclusion of social justice themes with a focus on community and people as an integral theme of the art piece
Contest Rules
- Art submission from UW Undergraduates ONLY.
- Students must be currently enrolled in courses at UW Seattle, Bothell, or Tacoma.
- Artwork must be original and be created by the submitting artist(s).
- The art piece can be part of an individual or group project. Each winning entry will only be awarded one cash prize.
- The art piece may be submitted under one of the following categories:
- Drawings: pencil, ink, crayon, markers, pastels, charcoal, etc.
- Paint: watercolor, acrylic, oil, tempera, etc.
- Digital design: computer-generated art created by the student. No audio, motion or artificial intelligence (AI) generated art.
Virtual Information Session
EarthLab hosted a virtual information session on March 12, 2024 from 12:30-1:20 p.m.
View the information session presentation here. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at earthlab@uw.edu.
Prizes
1st Place will be awarded $600 with a feature on EarthLab’s website and social media accounts AND will also have a component of their design featured in the visualization of an important upcoming EarthLab project to be released in the Summer of 2024 AND exhibition of your art at the EarthLab office and select events for (12) calendar months.
2nd Place will be awarded $250 with a feature on EarthLab’s website and social media accounts AND exhibition of your art at the EarthLab office and select events for (12) calendar months.
3rd Place will be awarded $150 with a feature on EarthLab’s website and social media accounts AND exhibition of your art at the EarthLab office and select events for (12) calendar months.
All prizes will be distributed as check payments per UW’s policy. For US citizens and resident alien students, these payments are reported by the UW at year end on a Form 1099-MISC if they exceed $600. For non-resident alien students, 30% is withheld, and payments are reported by the UW on Form 1042-S for all payments.