2024 Theme: The Art of Recovery
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Office of Recovery is excited to announce the 2024 Art of Recovery project, which aims to highlight the transformative impact of art on mental health and substance use recovery. Through creative expression, individuals can find connection, healing, and empowerment. By promoting artistic avenues as viable tools for coping, self-discovery, and expression, this project aspires to break down societal stigma surrounding mental health conditions and substance use, fostering understanding and support for those on their journey to wellness.
Now accepting submissions! The Office of Recovery will solicit submissions May 7 – June 28, 2024, for the 2024 Art of Recovery project from artists with lived or living experience. SAMHSA employees are not eligible to apply. Submissions will be reviewed and selected by the Art of Recovery planning group, comprised of SAMHSA staff and artists with lived experience with mental health and substance use conditions. Submissions will be reviewed based on originality, creativity, and extent to which the artwork expresses the theme of recovery. Entries containing plagiarized materials will be automatically disqualified. The Art of Recovery planning group will select the top submissions for each art category and age classifications. Submissions will be accepted in two categories: painting, drawing or mixed media, and photography.
Submission Form
Submission Form
Enter now, only a limited number will be accepted. Up to 150 youth submissions and 350 adult submissions will be posted in the virtual gallery. Artists can submit one piece of art along with a brief description of the inspiration behind the artwork. Selected artwork, including a brief description of the inspiration behind the artwork, will be posted on SAMHSA’s website as part of an online exhibit called the Gallery of Hope: Artistic Expressions of Recovery Across the Nation. The online gallery will launch in September 2024 and run throughout the month to celebrate National Recovery Month. An additional 15 pieces of artwork will be selected for an in-person gallery as well that will be displayed during National Recovery Month.
Who Can Enter?
Youth (13 – 17 years old) and Adults (18 years old and older)
Submission Review
Submissions will be reviewed based on originality, creativity, and how well the entry expresses the theme. Entries containing plagiarized materials will be automatically disqualified. Submissions lacking a signed release form will not be considered. A team of reviewers will select the top submissions for each art category and age classifications. Artists will be notified by July 31, 2024, if their artwork has been selected.
Entry Rules and Guidelines
SAMHSA reserves the right to accept or reject submissions based on the criteria below.
Painting, Drawing or Mixed Media
Painting, Drawing or Mixed Media
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Must be an original artwork.
- Materials used may include pencil, ink, charcoal, crayon, markers, pastel, paint, mixed media, collage, graphic design or similar 2D media.
- Scanning your physical artwork (a painting, drawing, etc.) will give us the best image quality. If you don’t have access to a scanner, you may take a picture of it (Please make sure that the room is well lit and the photo is not blurry).
- Artwork cannot show depictions of nudity, blood, suicide, violence, hate, racism, homophobia, or be political in nature.
- Please include a description with your entry.
- We will not accept submissions that are created using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
- We will review all submissions to ensure that they comply with our guidelines.
Photography
Photography
- Must be an original photo based on the contest theme.
- Please submit your photo in a high-resolution format.
- Image cannot show a person’s face and/or a depiction of nudity, blood, suicide, violence, hate, racism, homophobia, or be political in nature.
- Please include a description with your entry.
- We will not accept submissions that are created using generative AI tools.
- We will review all submissions to ensure that they comply with our guidelines.
For questions, please contact us.