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Enter Valley Transportation Authority Art Contest!
September 24, 2026
Help Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) promote public transit. Submit your art, and if it is selected, it will be featured on a VTA vehicle or at a VTA transit stop!
Deadline to enter: Tuesday, October 6.
Theme
Next stop: Imagination!
Think about what public transit means to you. Need some inspiration? Try one of these questions:
- Where can VTA take you, and where do you dream of going?
- Do you ride the bus, the light rail, or both?
- Who do you see or meet when you travel?
- How does transit connect you to other people and places in your community?
There's no wrong answer. Draw, paint, collage, or design something that shows your unique point of view!
Who Can Enter
Each partner museum is collecting entries for a different age group, and artwork is judged only against other entries in the same group:
- Children's Discovery Museum: ages 10 and under (learn more here)
- The Tech Interactive: ages 11 to 17
- San José Museum of Art: ages 18 to 25 (college enrollment not required)
Deadline to enter: Monday, October 6
Artwork Submission
Artwork due date: October 6, 2026
Size of Artwork: Minimum size: 1200 × 1800 px.
No exceptions—submissions not meeting these requirements will be disqualified.
Media: Media can include paint, crayon, felt pen, pastel, collage, and mixed media. Original artwork in digital media (Illustrator, Photoshop, etc) is accepted. NO AI artwork accepted. Avoid using colored pencils and avoid leaving lots of white space on the canvas.
Release Form: All artwork must be accompanied by the Release Form (PDF). Please sign the form or, if under the age of 18, have a parent or guardian sign for all the artists participating in the competition. If you have further questions, please email marketing@thetech.org.
A completed release form with:
- Name
- Age
- Description of work submitted, including medium and dimensions in inches
- High-quality image of your artwork in .jpg or .png format
Delivery of Artwork: Artwork must be submitted digitally to The Tech Interactive. Drop-offs will not be accepted at The Tech Interactive.
Submit via email at marketing@thetech.org. Please label the email “VTA Artwork Submission.”
Judging: All entries are judged on creativity, artistic merit, and theme interpretation. All decisions are final. Winners will be notified by email.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I have to ride VTA to enter?
Not at all! You can imagine where transit could take you, even if you've never ridden before.
Do I need to buy a museum ticket to drop off my artwork?
No you do not need to purchase admission and we do not accept physical pieces of art work. All art work must be submitted digitally by emailing a scanned or photographed image of your work to marketing@thetech.org. When submitting work, please be sure to include "VTA ART SUBMISSION" in the subject line.
Can I submit digital art?
Yes! We will only be accepting digital formats for art submissions. To submit your art, email a clear, high-res PNG or JPEG of your work to marketing@thetech.org with the subject line "VTA ART SUBMISSION"
Can I work with a friend?
Of course! Teamwork makes the dream work.
How much does it cost to enter?
Entering is free! To be considered, you must meet the age requirements of the museum you're submitting to. See designated age groups below:
- Children's Discovery Museum: ages 10 and under (learn more here)
- The Tech Interactive: ages 11 to 17
- San José Museum of Art: ages 18 to 25 (college enrollment not required)
Can I include logos, brand names, or famous characters?
No. Please keep your artwork original and leave out logos, trademarks, and copyrighted characters.
What art materials can I use?
Pencil, marker, paint, colored pencil, collage, digital art, etc. Bold colors are a MUST. Avoid leaving too much white space.