Express Your Values Art Contest

“Express Your Values” is an art contest inviting young people to creatively interpret and express Hizmet’s Core Values through their own artistic lens. Open to all who wish to share their perspective with a contemporary and heartfelt voice, the contest welcomes a wide range of formats—from short films and digital illustrations to photography and animation.

Hizmet is a values-inspired volunteer movement dedicated to collective kindness and service. This contest aims to reflect the spirit of Hizmet by encouraging young artists to explore and communicate their values through art.

The 12 Core Values of the Hizmet Movement are:

  1. Respect For Human Beings And Fundamental Human Rights
  2. Respect For The Rule Of Law
  3. Peaceful And Positive Action
  4. Empowerment Of Women
  5. Ethical Action
  6. Respect For Diversity And Pluralism
  7. Voluntary Participation And Altruism
  8. Consultation And Shared Wisdom
  9. Civic Nature And Independence
  10. Civic Engagement And Contribution To Society
  11. Protecting The Environment
  12. Holistic View Toward Humanity (And Unity Of The Mind And The Heart)

🎨 How to Focus Your Artwork

When creating your submission, you may choose how to interpret the Hizmet Core Values:

  1. Focus on a single value – Select one of the 12 Core Values and explore it deeply in your artwork.
  2. Combine a few values – Highlight multiple values in a single piece, showing connections or contrasts.
  3. Represent the Core Values as a whole – Create a work that expresses the spirit of all 12 Core Values collectively.

You are encouraged to interpret the values in your own creative way. The goal is to communicate the message of kindness, service, and positive action through your art, whether through imagery, sound, animation, or any approved format.

For more information about these core values visit: https://afsv.org/hizmetcorevalues/

📅 Dates & Deadlines

  • Contest Opens: September 21, 2025
  • Submission Deadline: January 4, 2026 1:00 PM EST | 10:00 AM PST | 7:00 PM CET
  • Announcement of Winners: February 11, 2026

Make sure all submissions are received by the deadline. Late entries will not be considered.

✅Eligibility

  1. Open to individuals aged 12 to 25. The submissions will be evaluated in two age categories: Group A: 12–16, Group B: 17–25.

  1. Participation is free of charge.

  2. Each participant may submit up to two artworks.

  3. Submitted works must not have received awards in any previous contest.

  4. Entries must be original works created by the participant. AI-generated images are not accepted. AI-assisted works are allowed only if clearly declared, and the process must be explained. AI-assistance must be kept to a minimum.

  5. Participants must also submit a brief artist bio (max. 150 words) and a short description of the artwork (max. 100 words).

  1. Multilingual entries are accepted: English or Turkish subtitles or translations are required.

📂 Categories

  • Digital Drawing (Group A, B)

  • Digital Collage (Group A, B)

  • Short Film (Group A, B)

  • Animation (Group A, B)

  • Traditional Drawing/Painting (Group A, B)

  • Photography (Group A, B)

⌨️ Technical Specifications:

Digital Drawing / Illustration, Digital Collage and Photography

  • Format: JPEG or PNG

  • Minimum width: 2000px (preferably 300 dpi resolution)

Short Film and Animation

  • Format: MP4

  • Maximum length: 5 minutes

  • Minimum resolution: HD 1280x720p

Traditional Drawing / Painting

  • Submit a high-quality scan or photograph of the artwork (JPEG or PNG, minimum width 2000px, preferably 300 dpi resolution).

  • Physical artwork may also be requested for exhibition purposes, but judging will be based solely on the digital image submitted.

File naming: FirstName_LastName_Title_Category

🖌️ How Submissions Are Evaluated

All entries will be reviewed by our experienced jury based on a combination of key artistic and conceptual factors. When evaluating submissions, the jury considers:

  • Originality & Creativity – How unique and imaginative the work is.

  • Interpretation of Values – How effectively the artwork communicates the Hizmet Core Values.

  • Expressiveness & Emotional Impact – The ability of the piece to engage, inspire, or move the audience.

  • Artistic Execution – Technical skill, composition, and attention to detail.

  • Clarity of Message – How clearly the artwork conveys its intended message to viewers.

🏆 Awards & Exhibition Opportunities

Our contest recognizes creativity across 12 categories, divided by art form and age group. Each category may have up to three prize winners:

  • 1st Place – $300

  • 2nd Place – $200

  • 3rd Place – $100

In total, there are 36 potential award opportunities across all categories! 🎉

🧑🏽‍💻 Jury Discretion

To uphold the highest standards, prizes are awarded at the sole discretion of the jury. This means:

  • Not every category is guaranteed to have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

  • In some cases, the jury may decide that only one or two prizes are awarded in a category, or that no entry meets the standard for recognition.

  • The jury may also grant Honorable Mentions to outstanding submissions, though this is not guaranteed.

🖼️ Exhibition Opportunities

Winning and selected works may be featured in:

  • Online exhibitions on our official website and social media platforms

  • Physical exhibitions at AfSV offices, partner events, or other venues chosen by the organizers

By participating, artists grant AfSV permission to showcase their works in both digital and physical formats, always with proper credit given to the creator.



Submit Your Art Here