Overview
Art Annual Youth Innovation Challenge (Art AYIC) is a competitive conference for encompassing career counseling and skill-based workshops which allow youth to connect with industry professionals. Students work on a contemporary, mixed media piece throughout the year on a thought-provoking prompt. They submit the contemporary piece with an Artists Statement at Art AYIC to be displayed and assessed at the exhibition. For more information, find the Art AYIC Information Guide under resources or at the bottom of this page.
Eligibility
Teams must be registered with the STEAM Innovation Challenge in order to attend Art AYIC. The hard deadline for registration is April 1st 2026.
All members of the same team are required to compete in the same event. Furthermore, each team is allowed to participate in a maximum of one event.
Should a team or an individual within that team require accommodation for Art AYIC, STEAM IC will process that request so long as it is made before March 25, 2026.
All participants must currently be attending a High School in Ontario, and be within the age range of 13-19 at that Art AYIC is to take place.
Art AYIC Regulations
For more information, find the Art AYIC Information Guide under resources or at the bottom of this page.
Judges may penalize contestants, after consultation with STEAM Innovation Challenge management, if they feel there has been a rule infraction not explicitly stated in the Rules and Regulations.
Right to acquire Submissions
All materials submitted at the Art AYIC become the property of the STEAM Innovation Challenge. The STEAM Innovation Challenge may use or allow affiliated partners to publish submitted material.
Contestants may not provide judges with any items, gifts or notes. Participants may only present their model, report, and planning to the judges.
Contestants must submit a hard copy of their final product planning, and all relevant process work.
The Artist’s statement, which is to be submitted with the final product, must be no longer than 600 words
All attendees of Art AYIC must be dressed in business formal attire.
Art AYIC Regulations
For more information, find the Art AYIC Information Guide under resources or at the bottom of this page.
Judges may penalize contestants, after consultation with STEAM Innovation Challenge management, if they feel there has been a rule infraction not explicitly stated in the Rules and Regulations.
Right to acquire Submissions
All materials submitted at the Art AYIC become the property of the STEAM Innovation Challenge. The STEAM Innovation Challenge may use or allow affiliated partners to publish submitted material.
Contestants may not provide judges with any items, gifts or notes. Participants may only present their model, report, and planning to the judges.
Contestants must submit a hard copy of their final product planning, and all relevant process work.
The Artist’s statement, which is to be submitted with the final product, must be no longer than 600 words
All attendees of Art AYIC must be dressed in business formal attire.
Point Deductions
For more information, find the Art AYIC Information Guide under resources or at the bottom of this page.
Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. Judges will determine the extent of the point deduction on a case-by-case basis, depending on the extent of plagiarism.
Teams should arrive on their alotted showcase time. A penalty of up to 15 points may be levied against any team that arrives 5 minutes late to their allotted time.
The presence of all team members at ICAC is mandatory unless an exemption is provided by the STEAM IC team, and absent members cannot attend the awards ceremony.
If a team exceeds the 10 minute time limit, the presentation will be interrupted and only the presented material will be graded. No points are deducted if a team has to be cut off.
AYIC Criteria
For more information, find the Art AYIC Information Guide under resources or at the bottom of this page.
Innovation, Creativity, & Originality
Pioneering use of materials and/or technology; redefines norms.
Clever twists on existing ideas; fresh execution.
Slightly innovative but safe or generally familiar.
Lacks inventive thinking.
Challenges perspectives; profound social/emotional impact.
Clear intent but surface-level.
Technical Skill & Execution
Masterful control; elevates the concept.
Competent but lacks polish.
Inconsistent or distracting flaws.
Deep reflection; clarifies innovation and intent.
Describes work but lacks insight.
Disconnected or perfunctory.
Competitions & Criteria
To find more information about the criteria, prompts, and other aspects of Art AYIC, please refer to the respective links.
