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General Guideline

Entrants must be secondary school students (grade 9-12) from the National Capital Region area. The general guidelines listed below apply for all categories. Participants are responsible for reading and adhering to all of the listed guidelines. Entries must be submitted by March 16th, 2025.

  • Entries should represent students’ interpretation of the theme: “Building Safe Spaces: Intercultural and Interfaith Relations”. 
  • All entries must include a fully completed and signed entry form, co-signed by a parent or legal guardian (click here). 
  • All students can participate in one, two, three or all four categories by submitting one (1) piece of artwork (in any medium) within the Artwork category, one (1) submission in the poetry category, one (1) submission in  the Short Video category and one (1) submission in  the Social Contribution Project category.
  • No work should contain any material that is libelous, defamatory, profane or obscene. 
  • Winning entries are based on grade-appropriate skills and creativity and will be judged on message and content. The decisions of the judges are final. 
  • Entrants will continue to own the rights of their works, but by entering the Creative Minds Youth Contest Ottawa they agree that their works may be reproduced, printed and showcased, for non commercial purposes, with their names and grades, by Intercultural Dialogue Institute Ottawa and the partner school boards. 
  • You must show and specify all sources.
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Categories

There are 4 main categories that students can make submissions to: poetry, artwork, short video and social project. All students can participate in however many categories they want, as long as they follow the listed guidelines for each category.

Prizes

The top 3 submissions in each category will receive a cash prize. First place winners will receive $300, second place will receive $200 and third place will receive $150. The prizes will be handed out in the award ceremony after the evaluation deadline. All contestants will receive a chance for various prizes and gift cards and a certificate of participation which will also be given in the award ceremony.

prizes

Evaluation Criteria

Category Criteria Points
ART – Skills (1-5)
– Creativity (1-5)
– Interpretation of theme (1-5)
– Formal qualities (e.g. cohesive appearance, elements and principles of design) (1-5)		 1-20
POETRY – Adherence to Theme (1-5)
– Creativity and Originality (1-5)
– Structure and Form (1-5)
– Language and Style (1-5)		 1-20
VIDEO – Content and Interpretation of theme (1-5)
– Graphics and Sound (1-5)
– Camera Techniques (1-5)
– Continuity (1-5)		 1-20
SOCIAL PROJECT – Relevance to Theme (1-5)
– Impact and Feasibility (1-5)
– Innovation and Creativity (1-5)
– Research and Support (1-5)		 1-20
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