Contest Details: NIMHD Art Challenge 2020

Art Challenge logo

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) is celebrating its 10-year anniversary as an Institute at the National Institutes of Health! As part of our celebration, we are hosting an art competition inviting individuals to submit images (paintings, drawings, photos, digital art, etc.) that represent NIMHD’s vision: an America in which all populations will have an equal opportunity to live long, healthy, and productive lives.

First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded in two age categories: Teen (16 to 18 years old at the time of submission) and Adult (19 years or older at the time of submission). Prizes will be awarded for 1st place ($3,500), 2nd place ($2,500), and 3rd place ($1,500) in each category . Read the Official Rules and Requirements for more information.

Challenge Goal and Theme

Challenge Goal - As part of the 10-year anniversary of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Institute is launching the Envisioning Health Equity Art Challenge. The challenge will raise national awareness about the prevalence and impact of health disparities and inspire further research on minority health and health disparities. In the United States, Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, and sexual and gender minorities (described collectively as “populations experiencing health disparities”) suffer higher rates of morbidity and mortality. The goal of the art challenge is to envision and express through art an America in which all populations have an equal opportunity to live long, healthy, and productive lives.

Challenge Theme - The theme of this challenge is envisioning health equity. Art submissions should reflect an America where health disparities based on race and ethnicity, geography, socioeconomic status, and sexual and gender identity are a thing of the past and where all populations have an equal opportunity to live long, healthy, and productive lives. Art submissions may focus on one or more populations experiencing health disparities or on health disparities overall.

Dates and Deadlines

  • Challenge Launch: October 22, 2020
  • Submission Period: October 22, 2020 through February 5, 2021, at 11:59pm EST
  • Winners Announced: April 2021

How to Enter

All artwork must be submitted via email. To enter this challenge, participants must send an email to NIMHD2020@mail.nih.gov using the subject line “Art Challenge 2020: [Title of Art Submission], [Age Category: Teen or Adult],” with their artwork and completed entry form. Participants who are under age 18 at the time of submission must have a parent or legal guardian sign their entry form.

For Group Submissions

  • All members of the group must meet the age requirements for the category in which they have chosen to compete.
  • All groups must designate one group member to be the team leader. The team leader completes the entry form, emails in the submission materials, and is the recipient of the prize money if the group wins an award. In the case of teen groups, the team leader can be an adult (18 or older at the time of submission ).
  • Every group member must provide the team leader with written consent to submit the entry on their behalf. If a group member is under 18 at the time of submission , the group member must provide the team leader with written consent from their parent or legal guardian.

Entry Requirements - Only one entry per person. Submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on February 5, 2021. Participants must include the following submission materials: artwork as a PDF, JPEG, or PNG file (minimum 300 ppi) and a completed and signed entry form. For participants under age 18 at the time of submissio , the entry form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Entry Form - Participants must complete all fields of the entry form, including:

  • Providing their signature or the signature of the parent or legal guardian (if the participant is under 18 years old at the time of submission) to confirm that they understand and accept the challenge Official Rules and Regulations
  • Providing a brief title (<50 characters), and a short caption (<150 words) describing their art piece

Participants must use this naming convention for their entry form file: “[Title of Art Submission]_[Date of Submission]_Entry Form”.

Download the Individual Entry Form

Download the Group Entry Form

Art Submission - Art submissions must meet the following requirements:

  • Artwork file must use the following naming convention: “[Title of Art Submission]_[Date of Submission]”
  • Artwork may be produced using any medium, including by computer program, but the art will ultimately be printed on an 8 ½″ by 11″ piece of paper and/or digitally represented as an image file.
  • Artwork must be submitted as a PDF, JPEG, or PNG file and must be at least 300 ppi (pixels per inch).
  • Files must be no larger than 10 MB.
  • Artwork must not use HHS, NIH, or NIMHD logos or official seals and must not claim federal government endorsement.
  • Video or audio recordings are not permitted.

Official Rules - Please read Rules and Requirements here.

Judging

Submissions will be evaluated on their quality, originality, creativity, and representation of theme, by a panel of judges with expertise directly relevant to this challenge. Only submissions meeting submission requirements will be reviewed.

Criteria - Quality, Originality, Creativity, and Representation of Theme

Prizes

The total prize purse is $15,000. First-, second-, and third-place winners will be chosen for each of the two age categories: Teen (for participants or groups of participants who are 16 to 18 years old at the time of submission) and Adult (for participants or groups of participants who are at least 19 years old at the time of submission). If a group submission receives a prize, the award will be given to the group’s designated team leader.

Payment of the Prize - Prizes awarded under this challenge will be paid by electronic funds transfer and may be subject to federal income taxes. HHS/NIH will comply with the Internal Revenue Service withholding and reporting requirements, where applicable. NIH reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to (a) cancel, suspend, or modify the challenge, or any part of it, for any reason, and/or (b) not award any prizes if no submissions are deemed worthy.

The Award-Approving Official will be Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, M.D., NIMHD Director.

Prize Teen Adult
First $3,500 $3,500
Second $2,500 $2,500
Third $1,500 $1,500
Total $7,500 $7,500

Contact Information

Have feedback or questions about this challenge?
Contact the project lead, Dr. Gina Roussos, NIMHD.
NIMHD2020@mail.nih.gov

The Institute’s Statutory Authority to Conduct the Challenge

NIMHD, established as an Institute in 2010 (P.L. 111-148), leads scientific research to improve minority health and eliminate health disparities by conducting and supporting research; planning, reviewing, coordinating, and evaluating all minority health and health disparities research at NIH; promoting and supporting the training of a diverse research workforce; translating and disseminating research information; and fostering collaborations and partnerships.

NIMHD is also conducting this challenge under the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Reauthorization Act of 2010, as amended [15 U.S.C. § 3719]. In line with these authorities, this challenge will lead to increased national focus on research to reduce health disparities and promote health equity.


Page updated Jan. 12, 2024