University of New England launches national high school art competition

The University of New England (UNE) has launched its inaugural Cover Artist of the Year competition, a national art contest for high school students in Years 9-12. The competition invites students to respond to the theme ‘Unconventional’ using any two-dimensional medium, such as painting, drawing, or graphic design.

The winner will receive $5,000 and have their artwork featured on the cover of the university’s 2028 Course Guide, which has a distribution of more than 25,000 copies. Additionally, the winning piece will be exhibited at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM).

While the university allows the use of AI tools during the creative process, the final submission must demonstrate the student's own artistic intent and perspective. The initiative aims to provide a national platform for young artists during a period of rapid technological change.