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Art Contest

Get creative to raise awareness about how gambling affects youth and young adults in Springfield.

Share your thoughts, stories, and perspectives about gambling using your choice of creative art/expression!

All submissions are valued and contribute to helping our community—together!

Deadline: September 28, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET

Every Story Matters.

This contest is for everyone, even if you haven’t gambled before.

It isn’t about being a fancy or professional artist. It’s about sharing your ideas in your own way!

All thoughts and experiences about gambling are welcome! How do you see gambling?

About the Contest

    • Springfield, MA residents ages 16–26

    • All experience and skill levels welcome! You don't have to be a trained or professional artist or creative to participate.

  • You may enter as many times as you would like!

  • You will receive one $25 gift card for your first submission only. You are welcome to submit multiple entries to increase your chances of winning!

    Up to 18 winners total will be awarded (6 for each prize tier)

    First Place: $250

    Second Place: $150

    Third Place: $100

  • Each creative piece can be in any format that best expresses your idea:

    • Digital or hand-drawn visual art

    • Poetry or spoken word

    • Short videos or animations

    • Music, songs, or raps

    • Photography, design, or collage

    • Reels and TikToks

    • OR any creative format!!

      Reminder: The medium is up to you—what matters is how you express the theme.

How to Submit

Make sure to read the Rules & Reminders section below!

  1. Check out the contest categories below to get started.

  2. When you are ready to submit, click the “ENTER CONTEST HERE” button below or scan the QR code!

  3. Indicate that you agree to participate in the contest and answer a few questions.

  4. Upload your creative piece!

  5. As part of the submission process, you will be asked to include a short artist statement, responding to:

     “Why did you make this piece, and what does it mean to you?”

Ready to get started?

Click the link below to check out the contest categories!

Ready to submit?

Enter by clicking on the link or by scanning the QR Code!

Important Information

    • You may submit as many creative pieces as you’d like, each tied to a different prompt

    • Submissions must be your original creation

    • Submissions must follow common community guidelines: no hate speech, discrimination, or graphic violence

    Respect for Real Stories

    If your creative piece includes someone else’s story and/or visually shows them (a friend, family member, community member), get their permission first and respect how they would like to be a part of your creative piece. 

    Why: Protects privacy and keeps submissions safe for public display.

    If your entry includes a video or picture of another person:

    • You must get permission from that person by completing a written consent form that can be accessed HERE

    • You may be asked to provide us with their contact information

    Please read our Creation and Submission Guidelines for Privacy and Rights.

    File Limits & Formats

    • Images: JPG, PNG, or GIF under 50MB

    • Audio: MP3 or WAV under 50MB

    • Video: MP4 under 50MB

    Why: The submission system we use limits file sizes to 50 MB. Following these guidelines avoids large file issues when you go to submit.

    IMPORTANT: For non-digital media (like paintings, sculptures, or drawings), you must submit a clear image or video of the work.

    Make sure the full piece is visible, well-lit, and easy to view for judging and display purposes.

    AI-Use

    We want work created by you, not generated by AI or templates. Your final submission must be an original creation.

    Submission Edits Not Allowed After Deadline

    After the submission deadline (August 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET), submissions can’t be edited or swapped.

    Optional Accessibility Support

    If you need help uploading, typing your statement, or using tech, call or email us and we can work with you to find a solution. 

    Theresa Glenn: (413) 750-2065

    Email: gariproject413@gmail.com

  • This contest is part of a research project in partnership with UMass Amherst. Your participation is completely voluntary, and a consent form will be provided to you, which contains information about your rights as a research participant. By participating, you understand that you will have an opportunity to receive and review the consent form at the beginning of the submission process, and at any point, you retain the right to withdraw your participation from the research.

    By consenting to participate in the research and submitting to the contest, you’re giving permission for your work to be shared with the broader community online and/or in person, on GARI platforms such as social media and our website, and for research purposes as outlined in the research consent form.

What is gambling?

For more information on gambling and possible risks, click the “learn more” button.