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Inspiring Young Creativity in Grande Prairie Through Photography: The Story of Young at Art

Have you ever stumbled upon something truly special that makes you want to shout it from the rooftops? That's exactly how I feel about Young at Art, a photo contest that showcases local artists and gives back to our community in the most incredible ways.


The story of Young at Art began when a group of friends, including me, came up with an idea to encourage children to explore their creativity through photography. It's been nine years since then, and the contest has become larger than life, inspiring countless young people in our community to pick up a camera and discover the world through their own unique lens.


What I love about Young at Art is that it's not just a contest, but a movement. It's a way to support our local artists, invest in our community's future, and most importantly, encourage our children to explore their own creativity. As someone who's passionate about art and photography, I can't help but feel excited about the endless possibilities that Young at Art opens up for our youth.


In this blog post, I'll be sharing with you all the amazing things you need to know about Young at Art, from the photo contest itself to the Young at Art by T.Sedore Photography Fund that supports local youth art initiatives. I'll also be sharing some of the incredible success stories that have come out of this initiative and why I believe it's so important for us to invest in the creativity of our community's young people.


So buckle up, friend, and get ready to be inspired by the power of art and community!


A lego man lifting his foot to step on a mosquito photograph by Leigha Haynes, Former two-time Young At Art Photo Contest Winner & Student Photographer at T.Sedore Photography
Lego Man 1-Mosquito 0 by Leigha Haynes, Former two-time Young At Art Photo Contest Winner & Student Photographer at T.Sedore Photography

Grande Prairie’s Annual Young At Art Photo Contest


Now that you know a little bit about the backstory of Young at Art, let's dive into the exciting details of the photo contest itself! This contest is all about encouraging young people to express their creativity and explore the world of photography. Whether your child is an experienced photographer or just starting out, this contest is a great opportunity to showcase their skills and have some fun.




To enter the contest, students must follow a few simple rules:


The photo must have been taken no earlier than January 1st, 2022.


This ensures that all entries are fresh and current, allowing students to showcase their most recent work.


Any editing must be done by the student.


This is an important rule as it allows us to see the student's individual artistic vision and creativity.


No watermarks or text can be included on the image entry.


This ensures that the focus is on the photograph itself and not any additional elements that could influence the judging.


Entries must be submitted by 4:00 pm May 31, 2023.


Images should be sent in JPG format in the highest resolution possible.


If you're submitting from a phone, make sure to check the settings to ensure that the image size is not being reduced. This is important because small file sizes may not be printable and can affect the quality of judging.


One entry per student.


This encourages students to focus on creating one great photo rather than submitting multiple, lower-quality entries.


Winning students must be in town the week of June 6th to accept their prize.


By following these rules, students can enter their photos into one of two categories: 12 and under, or 13-18.


As someone who loves the energy and creativity of young people, I'm especially excited about the 12 and under category. It's amazing to see what young children can come up with when given the chance to express themselves through photography.


And the prizes? Let me tell you, they're pretty incredible! The winner of each category will receive a DSLR camera along with many other items, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors! It's truly heartwarming to see so many local businesses come together to support our community's young artists.


So what are you waiting for? If you have a budding young photographer in your life, be sure to encourage them to enter the Young at Art photo contest. Who knows, they just might be the next winner!



The Young at Art Fund and the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta


a boat in a dock, photo titled Night on the dock by Damien Levebre, former Young At Art Photo Contest winner
Night on the dock by Damien Levebre, former Young At Art Photo Contest Winner