Art for Change – Pakistan

Art for Change - Pakistan

Every year, DNA aims to introduce themes based on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the purpose to enlighten young minds on a grass-root level. This year in partnership and support from Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and Bluebird Arts, we want our participants from 10-15 years of age to share their artistic interpretations on importance of preserving heritage sites, fostering a sense of pride, unity, and responsibility to protect them for future generations. For participants from 4-9 years of age, we want to encourage them to tell their personal stories, experiences, and dreams through visual expression.

Theme

This year's themes are;
1. The Beauty of Heritage Sites (Aligned with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 15: Life on Land): Celebrate the cultural treasures that define our identity and history. Through art, students can promote awareness of the importance of preserving heritage sites, fostering a sense of pride, unity, and responsibility to protect them for future generations.
2. My Story, My Art (Aligned with SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): Encourage students to tell their personal stories, experiences, and dreams through visual expression. This theme amplifies youth voices, nurtures empathy, and bridges cultural divides, contributing to more inclusive and understanding communities.

Beauty of Heritage Sites: Ages 10 - 18

Heritage sites are more than just remnants of the past - they are timeless storytellers that hold within them the essence of our culture, identity, and shared history. From ancient ruins to architectural marvels, each site speaks of a time gone by, yet continues to inspire and connect us across generations. This theme invites us to explore the enduring beauty of heritage sites - not only in their physical structures but also in the memories, traditions, and values they preserve.

My Art, My story: Ages 4-9

You have your very own story to tell, about how you feel, what you love, or even what you dream about. In this theme, you can draw or paint your story using colors, shapes, and lines. Your art can be happy, silly, quiet, or wild, because every feeling and idea is welcome. There’s no right or wrong. Just have fun and let your hands show what’s in your heart!

Rules & Guidelines

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.
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 Criteria

Judging will be based on the following criteria

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

Prizes & Accolades

National Prize Money Awards
60 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 School)**

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.

Submission Deadline

You can submit your artwork(s) by

Saturday, 15th November 2025

No artworks will be accepted after the deadline

Submission Process

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

Art for Change – Pakistan