Aviation Art Contest
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2026 THEME: FLY TO SAVE LIVES
SUBMISSIONS DUE JANUARY 16, 2026
For over a hundred years, people have dreamed of flying in the sky. What once seemed like magic is now a part of our everyday lives. Planes and helicopters help us travel far and fast, bringing people together from all over the world. They also help during emergencies, like delivering food, medicine, fighting wildfires and finding people who need help.
Flying isn’t just about helping others—it can also help you. When people do air sports like paragliding, ballooning, or flying drones, it helps them feel happy, confident, and strong. Being up in the sky makes people feel free, it helps them connect to nature, and exercises complete focus on one single task, all of which are great for their wellbeing. This year’s FAI Young Artists Contest theme is ‘Fly to Save Lives’. We want you to imagine how aviation and air sports can help save lives.
With your crayons, paint, or pencils, show us your ideas. How can flight make the world a safer and better place? The sky is not the limit—it’s where hope begins!
ELIGIBILITY
Youths ages 6 - 17 are encouraged to participate in the contest, even if they are related to officials or employees of NASAO, FAI, or any of its member organizations.
CONTEST RULES
The U.S. contest is part of an international program run by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). All contest rules (with the exception of the U.S. contest deadline dates) are set by FAI.
FORMAT & REPRESENTATION
- 11 3/4 X 16 ½ inches or, if this is unobtainable, the nearest possible equivalent.
- Artwork must NOT be framed or outlined with borders
- Artwork should clearly represent the theme of the contest
MEDIUM
Permitted: acrylic, oil paint, watercolor, indelible marker pens, felt-tip pens, soft ball-point pens, indelible ink, Crayola or any similar indelible medium.
NOT permitted: non-permanent mediums such as pencil or charcoal; computer-generated artwork; collage work involving the use of photocopies.
MARKINGS
Certificate of authenticity (see brochure) must be attached to the back of the artwork.
The following information must be included on the back of the art:
- first and last name
- mailing address
- date of birth
- name and address of child's school
TITLE
There is no need for a title on the poster and entrants can decide for themselves whether or not to include one; however, there should be a clearly recognizable link to the theme of the contest.
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS
Once received, entries become (and remain) the property of the State Sponsors and NASAO, and may be used for a variety of purposes. States may request art be returned to them by providing a return mail slip and packaging along with the artwork being submitted to NASAO.
Those forwarded for international judging become the property of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), however, FAI will try to return the original artwork.
AWARDS
STATE AWARDS
Entries in each age group are judged and state winners and runners-up are selected. Winners receive recognition from their state. The top three entries in each age group are forwarded to Washington D.C. to be judged in the national competition.
NATIONAL AWARDS
1st, 2nd and 3rd place national winners from each age group are selected from the state submissions. All national winning artwork is forwarded to FAI for the international competition.
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Winners of the international competition receive certificates and gold, silver, or bronze medals.
For more information call (701) 328-9653. All artwork must include a valid authenticity form and must comply with formatting parameters which can be found on the IAAC brochure. All entries must be postmarked by January 9, 2024.
Submissions can be sent to:
North Dakota Aeronautics Commission
Attn: Mike McHugh
PO Box 5020
2301 University Drive Bldg. 22
Bismarck, ND 58504