The Dr. Jerry Hiura Next Gen Visual Artist Award is open to high school students in Santa Clara County.
Application deadline: February 27, 2026
Winners announced: May 28, 2026
Award amounts: 1st prize, $3,000; 2nd and 3rd prizes, $1,000 each
The 2026 application is now closed.
Scholarship Theme
Theme: Trust the Process
Prompt: Embrace the adventure of trying something new and trust the process of your artistic innovation. Create a work of art that emphasizes how you create and celebrates your journey as an artist. Explore how your art-making process reflects your unique identity and inspires others to embrace their creativity.
Criteria
- Eligible students must be of high school age and live in Santa Clara County
- Artwork may be created in any medium, in response to the theme above
- Only one submission per student
Application Submission Requirements
Submit the requirements below through the application form.
A completed submission form with:
- Name
- High school name
- Teacher name
- Title of work
- Description of work submitted, including medium and dimensions in inches
- Artist statement
- High-quality image of your artwork in .jpg or .png format
Artist statement:
Your statement should be 200 words or less and describe who you are, what you make, and why you make it. The statement is a stand-in for you, the artist, speaking to someone about your work in a way that adds to their understanding and experience of viewing it. Highlight how your work connects to the theme Trust the Process.
Artwork image requirements:
- Minimum size: 1200 × 1800 px
- Maximum of three views
Need art materials?
Students in need of materials to enter the Dr. Jerry Hiura Next Gen Visual Artist Award are invited to contact us at education@sjmusart.org.