Art News
2025 International Chemistry & Art Competition: Children’s Round
Entries are now being accepted for the Children’s Round of the 2025 International Chemistry & Art Competition (ICAAC)!
This exciting competition invites young people from across the globe to explore the connection between chemistry and creativity by producing an original piece of visual art inspired by a chemical concept, material, reaction, or discovery.
Whether you're a budding artist or a future scientist (or both!), this is your chance to use your imagination and creativity to show how chemistry shapes our world.
🗓 Key Dates
- Entries open: 1 August 2025
- Entries close: 1 October 2025
- Shortlisted artworks released for viewing: 13 October 2025
- Winners announced: 11 November 2025
🎯 Who Can Enter?
The Children’s Round is open to students aged 5–19, in four age categories:
- Junior Section:
- 5 - 8 years
- 9 - 12 years
- Senior Section:
- 13 - 15 years
- 16 - 19 years
Entries can be submitted by students/parents directly, or via teachers.
🎨 Submission Guidelines
- Artwork must be based on the theme "What is Chemistry to me?"
- All submitted artwork must be the original creation of the student.
- It can be created using any traditional medium: painting, drawing, mixed media, photograph etc.
- For the purposes of this competition mixed media is: a form of art that combines two or more different mediums or materials to create a single piece. This can include a variety of techniques and materials, such as paint, collage, fabric, found objects.
- Videos and sculptures will not be accepted in 2026, however, we will be collecting feedback at the conclusion of this years competition and will consider suggestions of additional entry categories.
- Digitally created artworks are not permitted (i.e. created with the use of Adobe, Canva or similar).
- Submit a clear digital photo or scan of your artwork via the Online Submission Form. Physical entries will not be accepted.
- File formats accepted: JPG, PNG, or PDF.
- Maximum file size: 2MB
- Each submission must include:
- Student’s name and age
- Gender (for Inclusion & Diversity reporting purposes)
- School Name & Location
- Details of Parent/Guardian for Communication
- A short written description (max 50 words) explaining the artwork (this is 10% of the judging criteria!).
🏆 Prizes & Recognition
- Shortlisted Entries in each age category will be featured on the official ICAAC online gallery.
- All participants will receive a certificate of participation, regardless of whether they are prize winners.
- Winners in each age category will receive $500AUD cash (4 prizes up for grabs!).
- The highest viewed artwork in our online gallery will be awarded the Peoples Choice Award, and $500AUD cash.
🎉 Let your curiosity run wild and help us celebrate the powerful bond between science and art.
🔗 Submit your entry here: https://www.raci.org.au/icaac
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at education@raci.org.au
We can’t wait to see your creative interpretations of chemistry!
With warm wishes,
The ICAAC Team
Royal Australian Chemical Institute
📧 icaac@raci.org.au🌐 www.raci.org.au/icaac