The United World Cultures Foundation (UWCF), together with its partners, has announced the launch of the 5th All-Ukrainian Creative Contest “What Does Ukraine Mean to Me?”, dedicated to Ukraine’s Independence Day. Participation is free of charge, and the project will run through December 2025, giving Ukrainian families in the U.S. ample time to prepare and submit entries by children aged 4 to 17.
The contest is open to all young members of the Ukrainian diaspora. To take part, participants must upload their entry and complete the Google Form available via UWCF’s official link by August 24, 2025. The application must include the participant’s personal details, parent/guardian contact information, chosen category, and a brief description of the submitted work. All entries are accepted exclusively online: visual art submissions should be scanned or photographed (jpg/png), photography entries should be submitted as a PDF presentation of up to five pages, and musical submissions should be sent as video files recorded without background noise.
The “Drawing” category allows each participant to submit up to two works: one traditionally created (with pencils, paints, pastels) in A4–A2 formats, and one digital artwork. Age subgroups are divided as follows: 4–6, 7–10, 11–14, and 15–17 years; digital art has no age restriction. Recommended topics include “Descendants of the Brave Cossacks,” “Heroes Without Weapons,” and “Ukrainian Traditions,” but participants may choose any theme that aligns with the contest’s central question. The use of artificial intelligence or plagiarism is strictly prohibited; participants must retain the original artwork until the end of the project and, if requested, provide it for charity exhibitions.
In the “Photography” category, both individual children and entire classes or creative groups may participate. Each participant or group may submit up to three photographs (collages allowed) that document their own volunteer initiative—such as supporting the military, displaced persons, or animals. The photos and a short description must be compiled into a PDF file (up to five pages). The first page should include the participant’s name, age, city of residence, and the name of the initiative.
The “Song” category accepts one video recording of a Ukrainian-language performance—either a cover, medley, or original composition—performed solo, as a duet, trio, choir, or group. Solo and duet performances follow the same age groups as the drawing category, while group entries compete in a separate nomination without age division. The video must be recorded with a stable frame and the voice captured without autotune or audio editing. Background music or live instrumental accompaniment is allowed.
Entries will be evaluated by a jury of nearly thirty artists, musicians, and public figures. In previous years, the jury was chaired by prominent individuals such as Leonid Kravchuk, Darya Herasymchuk, and Viktor Yushchenko. The winners will be announced on UWCF’s website and social media pages: “Drawing” by September 16, “Photography” by September 17, and “Song” by September 21, 2025.
Following the announcement of results, the best artworks will be featured in a year-long series of charity exhibitions and auctions. Additionally, participants and their families may choose to make a voluntary donation starting from 50 UAH and will be automatically entered into two prize raffles: the first on September 1, and the second on December 5, 2025. All proceeds will go toward supporting orphans and children deprived of parental care.
Over the past four years, the “What Does Ukraine Mean to Me?” contest has united 18,182 participants from 46 countries and received nearly 30,000 creative works. The drawing by one of the 2021 winners was even featured on the Ukrainian postage stamp “Ukrainian Dream.” If your family in the United States includes young artists, photographers, or musicians, now is the perfect time to participate. Your child’s creativity will not only reflect their vision of Ukraine but also help peers in need. For inquiries, contact the organizers via email at konkurs@uwcfoundation.com, and find more details on UWCF’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Author: Diana Khudko