#iCANendthetrend Creative Arts Challenge

#iCANendthetrend wants you to be a part of our prevention efforts against the use of nicotine products. Use your creative and artistic skills to promote nicotine education across Kentucky through the creation of original artwork. This year’s theme is: Create Your Future, Free from Nicotine: Imagine a Future Where Nicotine Doesn’t Hold You Back! Elementary through high school-aged students are encouraged to submit artwork that illustrates their vision of a nicotine-free future. Submissions may highlight how breaking free or staying free from nicotine impacts personal dreams, future college or career goals, relationships, and communities, or reflect on overcoming the challenges nicotine creates for themselves, their peers, and their families. This is your chance to share your voice through creative art and make a difference. The top 3 winners will be chosen from each age group and will receive an #iCANendthetrend award. All submissions must be completed and submitted by 11:59 pm on February 14th, 2027.

Why this Matters: The Impact of Art in the Fight Against Nicotine

Participating in the #iCANendthetrend Creative Arts Challenge is more than just an opportunity to showcase your artistic talents; it’s a chance to raise awareness about the serious consequences of nicotine use and to inspire change within your community. Nicotine products, including vapes and oral nicotine pouches, have devastating effects on health, and your artwork can help spark conversations and educate others about these risks. By sharing your personal experiences and insights through your art, you can empower your peers to make informed choices and advocate for a healthy lifestyle. Every piece of art submitted contributes to a collective message that we can all stand together against nicotine use. Join us in this vital movement—your creativity can be a powerful tool for change!

Art is to be centered around this year's chosen theme: Create Your Future, Free from Nicotine: Imagine a Future Where Nicotine Doesn't Hold You Back!

Examples of possibilities (not limited to these listed)

  • Education and academic success 
  • Career and professional growth
  • Family and interpersonal relationships
  • Physical and mental well-being
  • Financial stability and independence

Examples of types of art forms (not limited to these listed)

  • Painting 
  • Drawing 
  • Digital Media 
  • Poetry 
  • Audio/visual 
  • Song/Music 
  • Social media posts (TikTok, Instagram, etc.) 
  • Collage 
  • Podcast (10 minute maximum) 
  • Infographic 
  • Photovoice

Eligibility rules

  • Shall have complied with all the requirements outlined in this description
  • Shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
  • Shall not be an employee of #iCANendthetrend or the University of Kentucky 
  • Shall be a student in 4th-12th grade 
  • Shall be a student in Kentucky

Rules and requirements

  • One submission per participant 
  • By participating in this challenge, each participant warrants that they are the sole author or owner of, or has the right to use, any copyrightable works that the submission comprises, that the works are wholly original with the participant (or is an improved version of an existing work that the participant has sufficient rights to use and improve), and that the submission does not infringe any copyright or any other rights of any third party of which the participant is aware.
    • No AI-generated art is permitted. 
  • Do not illustrate any nicotine and tobacco products or brands.
  • Each participant under 18 years of age at the time of submission MUST have signed permission by a parent or legal guardian to participate in the challenge.
  • By participating in this challenge, the participant grants #iCANendthetrend the rights to distribute and display their art submission

Top 3 prizes for each group (Elementary, Middle, and High)

  • 1st-Deluxe Award
  • 2nd-Classic Award
  • 3rd-Standard Award

How is the artwork being scored?

The #iCANendthetrend team will evaluate and vote on artwork following the rubric listed below:

20-16 points Exceeds expectations 15-10 points Meets expectations 9-5 points The work attempts to address the category but is incomplete or insufficient 4-0 Does not have any component of the category
Originality: Authenticity and original ideas are shown in the artwork.
Creativity: Artwork possesses characteristics that are out of the norm or out-of-the-box ideas.
Clarity of message: The message is clearly communicated to the audience and the theme is represented accurately.
Nicotine prevention relevance: The artwork is relevant to the issue and effects that align with nicotine prevention.
Total

Submission Instructions

Participants will fill out the art challenge submission form found HERE. Please click this link to access the Google Form.

  • After filling out the form digitally, please email your artwork submission to icanendthetrend@uky.edu. You must include the subject line “ICETT Youth Prevention Art Challenge: Title of your artwork – Age Category: Elementary, Middle, or High School- First initial LastName” 
  • Subject line example “ICETT Youth Prevention Art Challenge: Vaping Chemicals and Mental Health, Elementary Age Group – JSmith”
  • All submissions must be completed and submitted by 11:59 pm on February 14th, 2027 

A signature must be provided when filling out the art challenge submission form. If the participant is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian signature is required. By providing a signature, the participant ensures that: 

  • The information herein is accurate, complete, and honest.
  • The participant has read and understands How to Enter and the Rules and Requirements.
  • The participant is the sole author or owner of, or has the right to use, any copyrightable works that the submission comprises, that the works are wholly original (or are an improved version of an existing work that the participant has sufficient rights to use and improve), and that the submission does not infringe any copyright or any other rights of any third party of which the participant is aware.
  • By participating in this challenge, the participant grants #iCANendthetrend the rights to distribute and display their submission.
  • Submission dates: November 2026 – February 2027
  • Open Date: November 6, 2026
  • Due Date: February 14, 2027 
  • Judging period: February 15, 2027 – March 5, 2027 
  • Winner Announcement: March 25, 2027
  • Artwork Requirements:

 

  • Submissions must be original art, developed for this Challenge, and cannot have been submitted elsewhere. 
  • Photos, videos, audio recordings, graphics, original drawings, and paintings or other images are allowed. 
    • Note: Winning entries that include identifiable images of people (e.g., a picture showing their face or other distinctive features) will need to provide a photo release (PDF) from the person/people in the photo prior to the award.
  • Artwork may be produced using any medium, including computer software or applications, but the image and text should be clear if the image is printed on an 8 ½″ by 11″ piece of paper. 
  • Copyrighted materials are not allowed in any submission unless explicit written permission from the copyright holder is provided at the time of Challenge submission. Proof of the right to use copyrighted material must be included with your email submission (this can be included as another attachment to your email).
  • Titles and descriptions must be submitted in English or accompanied by an English translation. 
  • If text in a language other than English is included in the artwork itself, an English translation of the text must be provided as a separate document that is attached to your email submission. 
  • The artwork file must use the following naming convention: “Title of Artwork (a shortened version is acceptable)_FirstInitialLastName.” 
    • The example file name for artwork: Picturing Better Health for All_WAddams 
  • Artwork must be submitted as a PDF, JPEG, PNG, or TIFF file.

Submissions may be disqualified for the following:

  • Plagiarism: Entries may be screened, using a plagiarism software package, to validate the originality of the work
  • Falsification of any information submitted 
  • The use of vulgar language in the artwork submitted
  • Use of copyrighted material without permission 
  • Inclusion of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in your art (information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as your name, social security number, date, place of birth, emails, etc.)

Last Year’s 1st Place Winners:

Elementary School

“Nicotine project” By Emalyn – Garrard County

“Real life end the trend experience”

Scan QR code  or click here to view the video. 

Middle School

“DON’T VAPE, YOU’LL GET TRAPPED!” By Yno & Emma – Fayette County

“This artwork shows the transition between a vape-user’s childhood, where they get introduced into vaping, and adulthood, where they are addicted to the vape. By using vibrant colors, we demonstrated how people make vape look attractive, as seen in the illustrated vape store. Big bulletin boards in the street that urge people to start vaping, and the brain feeling “addicted” and “dependent” on the vape were the main focus of the poster.”

High School

“Exhaled Youth” By Sydney –  Fayette County

“My artwork is an image of a women who has smoked away her youth. In the image you can see a young women smoking a cigarette, and in this cloud of smoke you can see her older self. This image helps to raise awareness to the physical effects of smoking and how it can damage your appearance and pre maturely age you. It promotes the idea not to smoke away your youth, which is a harmful effect of smoking.”