CTW International Children and Youth Painting and Calligraphy 2026 Summer Competition
Deadline: September 4, 2026
Announcement Date: September 22, 2026
(Results will be published on the website)
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CTW International Youth & Children's Painting and Calligraphy Competition:
Organized by the CTW International Art Practice Committee, the "CTW International Children &Youth & Painting and Calligraphy Competition 2026" is based in Japan and looks towards South Korea, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and countries around the world. Aimed at young people and children globally, the competition is dedicated to promoting development in the arts and culture. Through multinational and multi-theme art activities and events, it provides the younger generation with opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and a platform to fully showcase their talents.
The competition committee maintains close cooperative relationships with artists, university professors, relevant institutions, and others who have significant influence in the industry and society worldwide. This ensures diversity in the competition's content and style while upholding professionalism, authority, and fairness.
The competition has been successfully held multiple times, with a cumulative total of over a thousand participants. Exhibitions have been successfully held at venues such as Myoshin-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, and the Kyoto International Community House.
As suggested by the English initials of "CTW" — Connecting To the World — we hope to use this opportunity to connect with the world and with all young people and children who love art and culture.
Exhibition Venue:
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, located in Okazaki Park, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan, was established in 1938. It is the second public art museum in Japan, following the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and ranks among Kyoto's four major museums alongside three other national and public institutions.
The museum features a diverse collection that includes Japanese paintings, Western paintings, and crafts from the Meiji era to around
1990. Its permanent exhibitions rotate several times a year, complemented by various special exhibitions and university graduation shows. Large-scale exhibitions organized by media outlets attract significant visitor interest.
In 2020, following renovations, the museum adopted the naming rights from Kyocera. Before reopening on March 31, 2020, it was officially renamed Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art. The current director, architect Jun Aoki, is also the designer of the renovation project.
The updated exhibition space accommodates a greater number of artworks, enabling more participants to showcase their creations in Kyoto, with a focus on reaching an international audience.
Exhibition Dates:
November 17, 2026 - November 22, 2026
Exhibition & Award Ceremony Venue:
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
Outstanding participants' works will be invited for public exhibition in Japan (travel expenses at their own cost).
Competition Theme :
CITY
All works related to the city — such as cityscapes, buildings, events happening in the city, interesting city stories, dream cities, future cities, etc. The theme is broad, allowing participants to fully express their creativity.
Submission Guidelines:
Type: 2D works (watercolor, ink, pencil, oil painting, collage, etc.)
Size: No larger than A3 (29.7 cm × 42.0 cm)
Quantity: One entry per person (must be an original unpublished work created solely by the participant)
The following works are not eligible for evaluation:
(a) Works that infringe on others' copyrights or are similar to existing works
(b) Works created by two or more people
(c) Works containing pornographic, violent, or political content
Competition Categories :
Preschool Group A: Ages 3-4
Preschool Group B: Ages 5-6
Children's Group A: Ages 7-9
Children's Group B: Ages 10-12
Open Group: Ages 12 and above
Application :
Application Process and Submission
Requirements:
During the registration period, participants can register either as individuals or as groups. The registration will be done through internet, uploading the artworks, and providing images of the payment receipt.
How to Submission Process :
Complete the online application form
Upload the artwork
Upload proof of payment
Receive confirmation via email within 3 business days
Please note that the artwork size must be no larger than A3.
Deadline: September 4, 2026
Announcement Date: September 22, 2026
Participation Fee :
HKD380 / JPY7,800 / MYR220 / TWD1600 / USD50
Certificate and trophy or medal (depending on the award received by the participant)
International postage costs for shipping the artwork from designated regions to Japan (Participants are responsible for the cost of mailing their selected works to the designated location.)
Judging Criteria:
Originality – 30%
Relevance to Theme – 30%
Completeness – 20%
Technique – 20%
Judges come from various fields and select award-winning works from different perspectives.
Awards and Honours:
Individual Awards:
(Applicable to all categories)
Mayor's Award - Certificate (issued by the city government)
Grand Prize - Certificate +
TrophyRunner-up Prize - Certificate + Medal
Excellence Award -
Certificate + MedalHonorable Mention -
Certificate + MedalEncouragement Award -
Certificate
Special Awards:
CTW International Art
Award (1 per category, total 5 winners) - Certificate +
TrophyJudges' Special Award (1 per category, total 5 winners) - Certificate +Trophy
Instructor Awards:
Teacher Awards: Teachers who recommend 15 or more participating students will receive an "Outstanding Art Instructor" award.
Group Awards: Groups that recommend 30 or more participating students will receive an "Outstanding Art Group" award.
The number of awards increases in proportion to the number of participants.
All participants will receive a certificate issued by the Competition Executive Committee. Based on the actual award received, trophies or medals will be awarded in addition.
All certificates, trophies, and medals will be delivered approximately 30 days after the event concludes via SF Express (cash on delivery) to individuals or groups.
Participants and their works will be included in the competition catalogue (the catalogue is available for a fee).
Participants may be invited to attend the award ceremony held in Japan and to visit the exhibition (travel expenses to Japan are borne by the participant).
Judging Panel:
飯島剛宗 Iijima Yoshitoki
First-Class Registered Architect (Japan)
Founder & Principal Architect, KUMO Architectural Design Institute
International Mentor, Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Donghua University
Overseas Distinguished Professor, Shanghai Second Polytechnic University
Biography:
Yoshitoki Iijima graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts with a major in Architecture. Following graduation, he joined Arata Isozaki & Associates, where he worked closely with the Pritzker Prize-winning master Arata Isozaki for nearly 20 years.
During this tenure, he participated in numerous internationally renowned projects across Europe, China, the Middle East, and Central Asia. In 2011, he became a Partner at the Arata Isozaki Shanghai Studio. In 2021, he founded the KUMO Architectural Design Institute.
Representative Works:
Suzhou China-Japan Industrial Design Center
"Cloud Wing" Landmark, Shanghai International New Creative Culture and E-sports Center
Carretilla Heritage Cultural Center Complex
"Ode to the Soil" (生土禮贊): Chief Curator and Exhibition Designer
2025 Biwako Biennale: Participating Artist/Exhibitor
田中真聪 Tanaka Masato
Space-Time Plastic Artist
Graduate of the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School, specializing in Compositional Design
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Biography:
Tanaka Masato’s core creative theme centers on "movements and forms that evoke human visual curiosity." By fusing mechanical, inorganic materials with the undulating rhythms of the natural world, he creates highly experimental kinetic 3D sculptures. His creative reach spans the boundaries of design and art, encompassing diverse fields such as exhibitions, displays, and performing arts.
Artistic Activities:
Since holding his first overseas solo exhibition in Hong Kong in 1999, Mr. Tanaka has continuously showcased his work both domestically and internationally. Through workshops, educational lectures, and performance art collaborations with various performers, he explores the possibilities of immersive, live-experience expression.
His creative philosophy is to build a "Visual Playground," aiming to provide a balance of vision and perception for those living under the stresses of modern life.
Highlights From Past Years
Terms and Details:
Participants must fill in the registration form truthfully and keep the registration form, artwork, and proof of payment images safe. Any false information will result in immediate disqualification.
Once the registration fee has been paid, refunds or transfers of participation rights are not permitted. Any changes to personal information or artwork will incur an administrative fee of 100 units of the local currency. After judging has concluded, any changes to personal information will incur an additional fee for the re-issuance of certificates, trophies, and medals.
Submitted works and personal information will be used for competition management and operations, award distribution, publication of results, and related public promotional activities.
Selected participants must submit their works to the designated location within the specified timeframe. If works need to be returned, they will be sent via SF Express (cash on delivery). However, works may not be removed from the exhibition venue during the exhibition period.
The Competition Executive Committee will take due care in handling the submitted works. However, all problems and consequences arising during the period, including but not limited to loss or damage during mailing, natural disasters, etc., shall be borne by the participant. The Competition Executive Committee will not provide any form of compensation.
If the exhibition and award ceremony are cancelled due to safety concerns caused by natural disasters or other events, no alternative arrangements will be made, and the Competition Executive Committee will not provide any form of compensation or refund.
All participants are deemed to agree to and voluntarily abide by the competition rules and related requirements, and shall not raise objections to the judging or exhibition arrangements.
The final right of interpretation of the competition rules rests with the CTW International Art Executive Committee.
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