On September 8th, 1971, the Kennedy Center opened to the public as the nation's cultural center. Since then, the Center has seen many live events, festivals, and performances that have brought audiences together in celebration of our diverse experiences and cultures.  As we approach the 50th anniversary this September, the Kennedy Center invites young artists ages 14-26 living in the United States to reflect on the legacy of John F. Kennedy by submitting all-original, creative portraits of JFK.   

In honor of John F. Kennedy's birthday on May 29, the Kennedy Center is launching this creative art competition asking artists to use one of John F. Kennedy's ideals of Service, Justice, Freedom, Courage, and Gratitude as inspiration for their portrait of JFK.

Artwork will be judged by a panel of art experts from across the country looking for a high level of skill, expression of creativity, and reflection of President Kennedy's legacy and ideals. Ten portraits will be selected by the panel and will be displayed in a digital gallery on the Kennedy Center's 50th anniversary website through at least June 2022.  One portrait from the 10 selected artworks will be chosen by a team of Kennedy Center representatives to be displayed in the Kennedy Center's Hall of States in Washington, DC, from September 2021 through June 2022 and the selected artist will receive a $500 (Five hundred US dollar) prize.

Official Rules:

Important: Please read these rules before submitting an entry in the JFK Creative Portraits competition. By submitting an entry, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you have read and understood all requirements set forth below.

Eligibility and Submission Requirements

• Artist must be between 14 to 26 years old at the close of the application window. 
• Artist must be a legal resident of the United States.
• Submissions must include a brief artist biography (2000 or fewer characters) as well as an artist statement describing how they created the piece and what inspired them. Selected finalists will also be asked to provide a headshot and may be required to participate in interviews.
• Submitted digital artwork must have been completed within a maximum of 2 months prior to the submission deadline.
• Regardless of the original medium, all artwork must be submitted as a digital file (either a scan, a photograph of a physical piece, or  a copy of a digitally-created file). Please do not send the original artwork.
• Digital files must be sized as follows: at least 8 x 10 inches at 300 dpi. The image submitted should show a view of the entire work in the manner in which the Applicant wishes the artwork to be displayed online if selected as a finalist.
• The applicant must be the sole creator and owner of the artwork submitted. Group projects will not be considered.
• Work that suggests visual plagiarism, such as directly copying another artists’ work, will not be considered.
• Although many mediums can be used for this creative project, we ask that NO TEXT (in any language) be involved in any element of the submitted piece. The only text that may appear in the artwork is the artist's signature should the artist choose to sign the work.
• Finalists may not alter their original submission in any way after the close of the competition.
• Registration and participation is free of charge.

Important Dates:

• Applications open on June 1, 2021 and close on July 31, 2021 (at 11:59 p.m.). Remember, all artwork must have been created within two months of the close of submissions. 
• The 10 finalists will be notified on or about August 23, 2021 that they have been selected to move on to the final judging and have their artwork included in the digital gallery. Finalists will be required to submit a headshot and affidavit of eligibility within 5 days of notification or a substitute finalist may be selected. 
• The final winner will be notified on or about September 7, 2021. 
• It is anticipated that the final winning portrait will be displayed at the Kennedy Center between September 13, 2021 and June 30, 2022. The digital gallery of finalists will be active through at least June 30, 2022.

Legal Information:

• By submitting artwork, artists (and/or their parents and/or guardians) agree that the Kennedy Center, its affiliates, and any sponsors or other supporters of the JFK Creative Portraits competition or the Kennedy Center 50^th Anniversary Celebration may use the artist’s name, image and the artwork submitted as follows:
  • If selected as a finalist, as part of the online gallery of selected art;
  • If selected as the winner, for display at the Kennedy Center up to December 31, 2022;
  • In connection with promotion of the JFK Creative Portraits competition, the Kennedy Center and the 50^th Anniversary celebration, as well as in connection with information about the Kennedy Center and its educational and programmatic initiatives, regardless of whether the artwork is selected for official display.
• By submitting artwork, artists, or as applicable, their parents or guardians, represent and warrant that the artwork is original, created within the contest timeframe, and that all other requirements are met. Applicants who are under the age of 18 must have the permission of their parent or guardian to submit their work, headshot, and to be interviewed.
• All artists will retain the copyright in their artwork, however, if selected as a finalist, artists will be required to provide the Kennedy Center with an exclusive license to display and reproduce the artwork through December 31, 2022. This license shall include the right to make the exclusive online display, to reproduce the artwork in publications, catalogues, and products, and in the case of the winning artwork, to create a large scale reproduction for display in-person at the Kennedy Center.
• Employees of the Kennedy Center, its affiliates, and any sponsors and participants in Kennedy Center 50^th Anniversary celebration, and any of their respective entities, subsidiaries, and immediate families (spouses, parents, children, and siblings and their spouses) and/or persons living in the same households as such persons of each are not eligible to enter the JFK Creative Portraits competition.  
• All applicable federal state, and local laws and regulations apply. The contest and these rules will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the District of Columbia. By entering, you agree to be bound by these rules and by the decisions of the Kennedy Center and other participating organizations, which are final and binding in all respects. The Kennedy Center reserves the right to change these rules at any time, and in its sole discretion, and to suspend, cancel, postpone or extend the contest. Individuals who violate or fail to comply with these rules, violate any law, rule or regulation in connection with participation in the application process, tamper with the operation of the entry process, or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to the Kennedy Center, the application process, any other applicants (in each case as determined in the Kennedy Center’s sole discretion), are subject to disqualification. 
• Winner will be required to submit an IRS W-9 form and an acknowledgement that the value of the award shall be considered taxable income.

If you have any questions about these rules or the contest, please e-mail them to kced@kennedy-center.org. 

We are so excited to be able to host this all-call for submissions and we cannot wait to see what you may submit!