Bennington Young Creators Awards (Young Artists, Innovators, Musicians and Scientists)
ListedCompetitionUp to full tuition
- Award
- Cash prizes in each discipline: First $2,000, Second $1,000, Third $500, Distinguished $250. If enrolling at Bennington: First Place full tuition for four years, Distinguished half tuition for four years, Finalists $25,000 per year for four years.
- Timeline
- Sep 1, 20262026-27 cycle: opens
- Nov 1, 2026Closes at. Winners announced in spring 2027.
- How to apply
- Submit one entry per discipline, choosing one category within it, with sponsoring teacher/mentor review and approval. Grades 9 to 11 use the YCA registration/portal; grade 12 first submits a nonbinding Common or Coalition Application to Bennington, then receives YCA instructions. Artists: one 2D image, up to three 3D images, or 1 to 2 minute digital work; optional description up to 500 words. Musicians: one original composition up to five minutes; recording/MIDI strongly recommended, optional score/lyrics, English translation for other-language lyrics. Scientists: a natural-science visual artifact, up to five PDF/images, optional explanation up to 500 words. Innovators: AI creative work plus 500 to 750 word reflection, a critical essay up to 1,200 words plus AI-use note up to 300 words if applicable, or a practical AI project with video up to three minutes and explanation up to 500 words.
- What you'll need
- A separate scholarship application
- A portfolio
- Who can apply
- Students in grades 9 to 12 worldwide; graduated students are not eligible.
- Good to know
- Free entry; a student may win in only one discipline. This listing covers Artists, Innovators, Musicians and Scientists; Writers is listed separately. AI is prohibited in Artists, Musicians and Scientists. Innovators allow disclosed AI use, but every essay/reflection/explanation must be written directly by the student without AI. English required except music with an English translation. Winning work may be showcased; ownership/future publication rights remain with the student. Bennington tuition awards require enrollment.
- Details
- ArtsSTEMResearchInternational students eligible