Chicago Rogers Park Science in Art 2026: NASA-Inspired Artwork for Local Elementary Pupils
The Willye B. White Park Advisory Council in Chicago is organising its Autumn 2026 Science in Art Competition for elementary pupils in the Rogers Park neighbourhood. Young artists must choose a NASA mission—past, active or future—and create an original flat, two-dimensional image inspired by that mission. The programme connects science storytelling with visual art for children, with a local in-person display and public voting.
Who is eligible and the exact closing date
Only elementary school students attending school in Rogers Park, or children receiving equivalent home-school education in Rogers Park, may participate. Children from unrelated neighbourhoods or schools are not eligible merely because they are interested in NASA. Artwork must be RECEIVED at the Willye White Fieldhouse no later than Friday 13 November 2026. The window for delivering completed work began on 12 October 2026.
Creative brief and artwork size
Select one real active, planned or historical mission from the NASA missions directory and visually interpret its research, spacecraft, astronauts, discoveries or scientific objective. The entry must be an original two-dimensional FLAT work with maximum dimensions of 11 by 14 inches. Glitter is not permitted; dry media such as pencil or chalk must be protected in a sleeve. The rules do not affirm that an email-only file or digital animation qualifies. A student who designs digitally should ask the Council about acceptable original prints and the meaning of its original-art requirement before producing the final physical entry.
Awards, voting and display
The first prize is a US$100 gift card, second prize US$50 and third prize US$25. Entries will be available for public viewing from 14 November through midday 21 November 2026 at the Fieldhouse, with a virtual display and Rogers Park residents' voting facilitated on the Advisory Council website. The Council plans to announce award winners on Saturday 21 November at 3pm, at the park fieldhouse.
How to submit and why the organisers are identifiable
Parents or pupils should complete the official entry form and attach it to the art. Send or drop off the physical entry at Willye White Park (Art Contest), 1610 West Howard Street, Chicago, IL 60626. The organisers do not describe an entry fee. The Willye B. White Park Advisory Council is a community volunteer body working alongside Chicago Park District staff; it has a documented history of park arts programming, local youth activities, charity fundraising and other community projects. The original 2026 contest rules are posted on its own website rather than an unrelated image-upload platform.
Original work and safeguarding
Ensure the student creates the visual work personally, identifies the NASA mission and uses no unlicensed illustration or image where prohibited. The entry form determines how the student's name and parent/guardian contact details are collected. A local display and web vote are part of the competition; parents should check the visibility of their child's image and name before consenting.
This article provides a summary. To avoid misunderstandings, please be sure to check the official page for full details.
Information verified: 19 October 2026.
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