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Ready Oregon: Youth Art Contest

What Does Community Preparedness Mean to You?

When disaster happens, everyone is affected. Communities are stronger and recover more quickly when we prepare and work together. 

Show us what community preparedness means to you! 

Create an original piece of art showing how people can work together to prepare for emergencies and disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, floods, winter storms and more. 

Learn more about preparedness through Oregon’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program.

Submit by:

Friday, September 25, 2026, at 5 p.m. 

Winners will be notified by Friday, October 2, 2026. 

Questions?

Email community.preparedness@oem.oregon.gov

The contest is FREE and open to all youth in grades K–12 in Oregon.

Entry Categories

  • Kindergarten–2nd Grade

  • 3rd–5th Grade

  • 6th–8th Grade

  • 9th–12th Grade

Awards in Each Category

  • First Place

  • Runner-Up

  • Honorable Mention

Entry limit: One entry per youth.

Medium: 
Original 2D artwork, including painting, drawing or mixed media.

Size: 
8" × 10" to 11" × 14"

Format: 
Artwork must be created on a flat surface. Canvas, cardstock or poster board are recommended.

Original Work: 
Artwork must be 100% original and created solely by the student. AI-generated images and copyrighted characters are not permitted.​

Each submission must include:

  • Artist’s name

  • Grade level

  • Name of parent, guardian or other contact person

  • Contact person’s relationship to the artist

  • Contact person’s phone number

  • Contact person’s email address

  • A short description of the artwork

Artwork must be dropped off at your local, county or Tribal emergency management office. ​​

First-place winners will receive a four-person, 72-hour emergency preparedness kit.

Winning artwork will be reproduced and displayed at the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) from October 2026 through September 2027.

Winners will also be invited to attend OEM’s Ready Fair​ on Saturday, October 10, 2026, where they can see their artwork on display.

Original artwork may be picked up at OEM or returned through the participating local, county or Tribal emergency management office after October 17, 2026. (include this is email to EMs?)​


Artists retain full copyright ownership of their artwork. By entering the contest, participants grant OEM permission to reproduce and display the submitted artwork for non-commercial educational, preparedness and promotional purposes.