An art contest just for children in foster care.

Create your own unique piece of art – sketch, paint, sculpt, collage, etch, carve, weave, spray, mold, 3D, and more. Be creative in any medium you desire then enter your art for a chance to win gift card prizes!

Plus, all artwork will be featured in a special Stories in Color art exhibition!

First place: $300 Second Place: $200 Third place: $100

Theme: The Color Blue

Artists are encouraged to feature or emphasize the color blue in their piece. Art can be abstract, figurative, realism, surrealism and beyond. All media types – pencils, inks, charcoals, pastels, paints, 3D, textile, and more – are accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You need to be 10 or older and currently in the New Jersey child welfare system.

  • The Stories in Color Art Contest is only open to children in the New Jersey child welfare system to align with the mission of Child Focus, a non-profit organization that champions the best interests of children impacted by, or at risk of, abuse or neglect.

  • You can submit any type of art: pencils, inks, charcoals, pastels, paints, 3D, textile, and more. We celebrate creativity in all its forms.

  • No. You can create any kind of art you like! Be imaginative, be realistic, be abstract, be surreal – the choice is yours!

  • Yes. Whatever art you create, it must feature or emphasize the color blue in some way. You can use other colors too, but blue should be prominent.

  • 2-D art must fit within 3’ x 3’. 3-D art must fit within 3’ x 3’ x 3’.

  • All art must be submitted by August 31, 2025.

  • Only physical original art may be submitted. We cannot accept electronic files.

  • All artwork will be available for collection by the artist, parent/guardian, caseworker or CASA volunteer at the office in which the artwork was submitted to from November 3, 2025 until December 31, 2025.

  • The name of the artist will be kept strictly confidential.

Contest Rules

  1. All children age 10 and older currently in the New Jersey child welfare system are eligible.

  2. Only one entry per artist.

  3. The maximum size for all artwork is 3’ x 3’.

  4. All media including 3-D are accepted.

  5. All artwork should feature or emphasize the color blue.

  6. Stories in Color submission form and artwork must be complete at time of entry.

  7. Submissions will only be accepted between August 1, 2025 and August 31, 2025

  8. Art may be submitted at Child Focus, 415 Hamburg Turnpike, Suite D2, Wayne, NJ 07470 Monday-Friday from 9:30am-4:30pm, or at Child Focus, 1143 East Jersey Street, 2nd Floor, Elizabeth Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30am-4:30pm.

  9. Late entries will not be accepted.

  10. All entries must remain with Child Focus for the duration of the contest in order to be eligible for prizes.

  11. A jury panel will judge all entries.

  12. First place will be awarded $300 in gift cards, second place will be awarded $200 in gift cards, and third place will be awarded $100 in gift cards. Winners will be notified by email by September 15, 2025.

  13. Selected artwork will be exhibited to the public in both Passaic and Union counties.

  14. All artwork will be available for collection by the artist, parent/guardian, caseworker or CASA volunteer at the office in which the artwork was submitted to from November 3, 2025 until December 31, 2025.

  15. By entering into the Stories in Color Art Contest, the artist and all related parties agree to be bound by contest rules.