A District 5330 Vocational Service Program
Art for Peace
A district-wide visual-art contest inviting young people to express what peace, service, and the Four-Way Test mean to them — in their own hand.
Peace, in the hand of a young artist
Peace is one of Rotary International’s seven Areas of Focus — and one of the hardest ideas to teach. The District 5330 Art for Peace contest invites young artists across Riverside and San Bernardino counties to do what artists have always done: make the invisible visible.
Each year, students submit original visual artwork — painting, drawing, mixed media, photography, digital art — that responds to a peace-themed prompt grounded in the Four-Way Test. Submissions are judged by a panel of artists and Rotarians and recognized at the District Conference, with winning pieces displayed across the District and shared on this website.
- Open to students across District 5330, sponsored by their local Rotary club.
- Multiple age categories so artists compete with peers.
- Winning artwork displayed at the District Conference and across the District.
Of the things we think, say, or do:
- 1Is it the TRUTH?
- 2Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- 3Will it build GOODWILL & BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- 4Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Age divisions
Artists compete with peers in their own age group. Final categories for the 2026 contest will be confirmed by the committee — the divisions below are typical.
Primary
Grades K–2 (ages 5–7). Crayon, marker, paint, collage — any medium a young artist can hold.
Elementary
Grades 3–5 (ages 8–10). Any 2-D medium — drawing, painting, mixed media, photography.
Middle School
Grades 6–8 (ages 11–13). 2-D media plus digital art and photography.
High School
Grades 9–12 (ages 14–18). All visual media, including digital, photography, and mixed-media work.
Submission guidelines
- Get sponsored by a local Rotary club. Every entry must be sponsored by a District 5330 Rotary club. Don’t know one near you? Find a Club.
- Create original 2-D artwork responding to the year’s peace theme. Maximum size: 18″ × 24″ (mounted or unmounted, no frames). Digital pieces should be submitted as high-resolution PDF or PNG.
- Attach an artist statement (50–150 words) describing how your artwork reflects the Four-Way Test or the year’s peace theme.
- Include the entry form signed by the artist, a parent or guardian (for minors), and the sponsoring Rotarian.
- Submit by the deadline through your sponsoring Rotary club, which will forward eligible entries to the district committee.
Judging criteria
Entries are judged by a panel of artists, art educators, and Rotarians on:
- Relevance to the theme — how clearly the work responds to the peace prompt and the Four-Way Test.
- Originality & creativity — fresh ideas and a personal point of view.
- Craftsmanship — thoughtful use of the chosen medium.
- Artist statement — how well the writing illuminates the artwork.
2026 contest documents
Theme prompt, full rules, entry form, judging rubric, and parent/guardian release. Coming soon — the 2026 packet will be posted here once the committee finalizes it.
Celebrating our first Art for Peace winners
Our inaugural Art for Peace Contest exceeded every expectation. Students across District 5330 submitted artwork full of skill, originality, and heartfelt messages of diversity, compassion, community, and kindness. Judges praised the creativity, color, and symbolism on display — and families, educators, and Rotarians left inspired by the next generation of peacebuilders. Congratulations to every student who took part. Here are the placed winners in each division.
How winners are honored
First-place winners in each category are recognized at the District Conference and have their work featured on this website and in District communications. Past winners will be celebrated here once the 2026 contest concludes.
Questions about Art for Peace?
The 2026 program chair will be announced shortly. In the meantime, reach the District 5330 Vocational Service team for sponsor info, school outreach, or to help judge.