The committee has opened submissions for iCreate 2026, the annual juried exhibition highlighting the work of regional high school artists. For young New Canaan artists, this has been a competition where they have excelled. The call for entries, which runs through April 6, invites students in grades 9 through 12 to submit original two-dimensional artwork for consideration.
Approaching its twentieth year, iCreate has developed into one of the region’s most established forums for student visual art. Since its founding, the exhibition has featured the work of hundreds of students from across Fairfield and Westchester counties, with participation steadily expanding as area schools have integrated the program into their visual arts curricula. What began as a smaller showcase has grown alongside the museum itself, maintaining a consistent focus on student work while adapting to a broader audience and a more formalized jury process.
Selected pieces will be exhibited from June 13 through August 23, 2026, in the Susan and Bill Mahoney Gallery Lobby at the Bruce Museum, a space that receives a continuous flow of visitors throughout the summer season. In past years, the exhibition has drawn families, educators, and museumgoers into sustained engagement with student work, with many returning specifically to view the show as it rotates into the summer calendar.
Students may submit one work in painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, or mixed media. Each submission begins online through the museum’s official entry portal, where students upload a high-resolution image of their work along with a brief artist statement of up to 150 words and basic school information. Parent or guardian consent is required for participants under 18. All entries must be received by April 6.
The jury process unfolds in two stages. Submissions are first reviewed digitally in early April. From there, selected students are invited to bring their work to the museum for in-person evaluation later in the month. This step, which has remained central to the program over time, introduces students to the practical considerations of presenting work in a formal setting. Final selections are expected in May.
The exhibition is organized in part by high school student interns, who assist in the curatorial process—an element that has remained consistent across nearly two decades.
Awards will be presented for first, second, and third place, along with three honorable mentions. A People’s Choice Award, determined by public vote during the exhibition, invites visitors to take part in the selection process throughout the summer.
Students whose work advances to the final round must be available to deliver their artwork to the museum for judging and, if selected, for exhibition. All accepted works will be displayed in a public-facing gallery space, where visitors encounter the exhibition as part of the museum’s regular programming.
