Art for Change Pakistan

Dear Principals, Art Coordinators/Teachers, Parents and Students,

It is with great excitement that we invite you to be part of the 13th Art for Change - International Child Art Challenge & Exhibition 2026-27, organized by Discovering New Artists supported by Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Bluebird Arts and Tezz Foods. Over the years, Art for Change has grown into one of the largest art initiatives in Pakistan and worldwide, inspiring young minds to use art as a force for social good.

Through our one-for-one model, we ensure that every child, regardless of economic background, has the opportunity to create, express, and shine. Together, we have impacted the lives of more than 170,000 young artists from over 25 countries, empowering 38,000+ students from marginalized communities through art education, exposure, and opportunities. This year, we are thrilled to present two thought-provoking and socially impactful themes, inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligned with SDG-3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG-6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG-13: Climate Action, SDG-14: Life Below Water.

Themes:

1. My Roots, My Identity
2. Our Water, Our Responsibility

By participating, your students not only gain recognition and awards - including cash prizes, certificates, trophies, and honorariums for teachers - but also join a movement that promotes education, cultural preservation, and equality at a global scale. Selected artworks will be featured in national and international exhibitions.

We aim to provide equal opportunities for students from all backgrounds, and your maximum participation is key to bridging the gap between privileged and underprivileged communities. By submitting a maximum number of artworks, you help us showcase the incredible talent of your students on an international stage.

We look forward to receiving your students' remarkable creations for this year's Art for Change.

Yours Sincerely,
Hassan Mujtaba Zaidi
Executive Director

My Roots, My Identity: Ages 4-18

Every child carries a story, and each story is shaped by language, traditions, food, music, and the communities they call home. We encourage participants to explore cultures, traditions, histories and celebrate what makes their identity unique through art. By sharing our roots, we learn from each other and build a more connected, inclusive future because at DNA we believe diversity is our greatest strength.

Our Water, Our Responsibility: Ages 4-18

Water is essential to life. It nourishes people, wildlife, and ecosystems, yet growing challenges such as pollution, climate change, and water scarcity threaten this precious resource. Through Our Water, Our Responsibility, DNA invites young people to explore the importance of water conservation through art and water's role in their lives and the everyday actions that protect it from clean rivers to reducing waste. DNA believes creativity can inspire real change, encouraging young artists to become stewards of the planet, one small action at a time.

Children and young people can participate in Art for Change Pakistan under the following 7 categories.

Category-I: 4 - 6 Years
Category-II: 7 - 9 Years
Category-III: 10 - 12 Years
Category-IV: 13 - 15 Years
Category-V: 16 - 18 years
Category-VI: 4 - 9 Years (Special Needs and Marginalized from community schools)
Category-VII: 10 - 15 Years (Special Needs and Marginalized from community schools)

• Age Limit: The eligibility of participants ranges from 4 – 18 years of age.
• Number of Entries: Participants may submit up to a maximum of 2 art entries with each entry having a separate submission fee.
• Size of Artwork: Only A3 size (12” inches x 16.5” inches) sheets should be used for all types of artworks. Any other size will automatically be disqualified.
• Medium: The work may be drawn or painted in pencil, pen, charcoal, crayon, pastel, watercolour, gouache, acrylics, oils, poster colour, and collage. We are looking for hand-drawn colourful artwork - students should not use digital tools to create their artwork. For display purposes, colourful entries are preferred. Only 2D artworks will be accepted.
• The entries employing colours that can be dusted or wiped off or that could dirty other entries when dealt together must be fixed.
• Submission Forms: Works of art must be labelled using the artwork submission form which should be filled in fully and neatly. Please do not write on the front of the artwork. Any artwork having a name on the front will be disqualified.
• Any artwork received with incomplete or without the submission form will not be accepted.
• School Registration form: For all the participating schools, the School Registration form is mandatory to be filed and sent in the package. Any artworks/packages from schools received with incomplete or without the School Registration form will not be accepted. (Please make sure to carefully fill in each section of the School Registration form providing accurate information)
• All Information provided on the School Registration form and Artwork Submission forms shall be same. Make sure the spelling of the child's name, the name of the School and Campus, the age of the child should be same on both the forms submitted for reference.
• Payment Proof: Any artwork(s) received without the payment receipt or payment proof will not be accepted.
  
• Judging: The entries will be judged by a panel of senior jury artists. The entries will be judged on the basis of originality, creativity and imagination, relevance to the theme, and visual impact.
• Intellectual Rights: Discovering New Artists reserves copyrights on all submitted pieces. No artwork & entry fee will be returned or refundable.
• All work will become the property of the Discovering New Artists which may use, sell, or exhibit them for promotion and within its own programs and activities.
• Mailing Art Entries: All schools are responsible for submitting a separate list of participants in order to receive the participation certificates. In order to avoid spelling errors and additional courier charges, DNA will provide blank participation certificates to the schools.
• Discovering New Artists is not responsible if some works do not reach them.
• Announcement: The results will be announced on our website and Facebook page. All the selected school entries will be notified through their school emails. Only individual entries will be notified on their emails. Non-selected entrants will not be notified of the results.
• You can take inspiration from artworks but cannot copy or plagiarize anyone else's artworks or from internet.

Judging will be based on the following criteria

1. Originality
2. Creativity & Interpretation
3. Relevance to Theme
4. Visual Impact

Cash Prizes | Regional Trophies | Medals of Excellence | National & International Exhibitions Cash Honorariums for Art Teachers | School Winners | SDG DNA Action Awards for Schools | Exclusive Postcards with Customised Artworks

National Prize Money Awards
70 cash prizes will be awarded to 10 top winners from each of the following above six categories (Category I - VII).

10 Cash Prizes per Category

• 1st Prize: PKR 6,000 + Medal + Distinction Certificate + Exhibitons Display.
• 2nd Prize: PKR 4,000 + Medal + Distinction Certificate + Exhibitons Display.
• 3rd Prize: PKR 3,000 + Medal + Distinction Certificate + Exhibitons Display.
• 4th - 10th Prize: PKR 2,000 + Medal + Distinction Certificate.

Other Prizes

• Selected artworks will be exhibited in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi & internationally in galleries.
• Each exhibition runner-up will receive a Medal of Excellence.
• Art for Change Badges will be given to special mention runner-ups.
• Certificate of Participation will be awarded to all the participants.
• 25 exclusively selected artworks from national and international participants will become part of the permanent collection at DNA Global Art Gallery

School Winners* - (Only Applicable for Private Schools)

Each school-level winner will be awarded a set of 8 postcards of their artwork.

(Please note that school winners will not be eligible for the medals are only eligible from private schools. National winners are not eligible for this prize. A minimum of 100 entries are a must from a school campus in order to be eligible for the school winners.)

Trophies & Awards for School's Principals/Coordinators/Art Teachers

• 3 Regional School Trophy Awards for Schools – Schools with the most entries received will win this title.
• Upon submitting a minimum of 100 artworks from a school;
  • The School Principal and one of the nominated Art Teachers/Coordinators will receive an Art for Change trophy.
  • Each Art Teacher alone contributing a minimum of 150 entries will receive an honorarium of PKR. 5,000/- (only applicable for Private Schools)
• A Certificate of Appreciation will be awarded to each coordinating official from the schools.

Exclusive SDG DNA Action Award for Schools

Each school contributing a minimum of 400 entries or above will be crowned with an exclusive DNA SDG Action Award.

You can submit your artwork(s) by
Friday, 30th October 2026
No artworks will be accepted after the deadline

Submission Fee:

School Submission Fee per Art Entry: PKR 1,000/-
Discount: upon 50 entries from each school, the discounted submission fee is PKR 950/-

Participants (16-18 years) and Individual Participant's Fee: PKR 2,000/- per participant

Fee Procedure:

For all cities in Pakistan, the fee can only be submitted in the following ways;

1. Direct Online Transfer/ IBFT/ Bank Deposit/ Demand Draft/Cross-Cheque drawn in the name of ‘Discovering New Artists’.

2. Internet Banking Funds Transfer (IBFT)
    Bank Name: Bank Alfalah Limited
    Account Title: Discovering New Artists
    IBAN # PK82ALFH0146001006788202

    Bank Name: Faysal Bank Limited
    Account Title: Discovering New Artists
    IBAN # PK14FAYS3152787000002194

Note: Demand Draft and/or IBFT receipt should be delivered along with the artwork submission.
*No artworks/school submissions will be accepted without the School Registration Forms.

Submission Address:

Attach the artwork submission forms at the back of the artworks and fill out the school registration form (only for school submissions) and send your artworks along with the fee receipt to the following address;

Attn:
Ms. Sidra Ali (Director Programmes)
Art for Change
Discovering New Artists
50-E, Sui Gas Society (Near DHA Phase V)
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92 322 4102159