Long Island’s Best 2026

Introductory Video

Inspiration Artwork

• All of Me With All of You: LGBTQ+ Art Out of the Collection
• Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History (Coming Soon!)
• Women Sculptors in the Collection

Submission Requirements

• NEW! In order to apply, each student must create their own username and password and login to ShowSubmit.
• Students must be enrolled in grades 9-12 at a participating school in Nassau or Suffolk County, New York. (Schools must complete a School Registration Form and pay a $85 registration fee by October 24, 2025 in order to participate.)
• Painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, photography, computer graphics, sculpture, mixed media, fashion, and video artwork may be submitted.
• Only artworks created during the 2025-2026 school year will be considered.
• Each student may submit only one work of art.
• Collaborative pieces by more than one student are welcome. They count as one work of art, or entry, for the school.
• Schools may only submit the number of entries their school has been allotted. (Completing the School Registration Form and paying the registration fee earns the school four artwork entries. More entries may be earned by scheduling programs with the museum. Learn more)
• Artwork cannot be withdrawn at any time during the exhibition.
• Students must choose a work of art to be inspired by (“Inspiration Artwork”). This artwork must be from one of the following two exhibits or selection of sculptures by women in the Museum’s Collection. If a student would like, up to two Inspiration Artworks may be selected. View all Inspiration Artwork to choose from.
  • All of Me With All of You: LGBTQ+ Art Out of the Collection
  • Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History (Coming Soon!)
  • Women Sculptors in the Collection
• Students must write and submit an artist statement with their entry explaining their work and how it was inspired by the selected work(s) of art from the Museum. This statement must be between 75 and 250 words in length.

• 2-D artwork: Maximum height 48″ (including frame), Maximum width 30″ (including frame)
• 3-D and 3-D relief artwork: Maximum height 60″, Maximum width 24″, Maximum depth 24″

Each Student Entry must include:

• Student contact information
• Teacher contact information
• School name and student grade level
• Artwork title and medium
• Name of exhibition, artwork title, and artist name that inspired the student

• For 2-D artwork: height and width (including the frame)
• For 3-D artwork: height, width, depth

• 2-D artwork: 1 Image
• 3-D and 3-D relief artwork: 2 Images: 1 full view, 1 detail view.
  
  A video is optional for 3-D work to show it from multiple angles. Share the file via a Google Drive [or other equivalent file-sharing app] link.

• A video is required to show the movement/interactive aspect of the work.
• Share the file via a Google Drive [or other equivalent file-sharing app] link.

• 1 Image: A still from the video
• The video file is required.
• Share the file via a Google Drive [or other equivalent file-sharing app] link in the Entry Form. (Any questions/concerns, please email [email protected])

Artwork Delivery & Framing

• Artwork accepted into the exhibition must be hand-delivered by the art teacher to the Museum on March 2 and 3, 2026, 2 - 5 pm.
• Artwork must be delivered ready to display.

• Work must be ready to hang with hardware and/or wiring on the back.
• Works on paper must have glass or Plexiglas.
• All frames must be solid black or white.

• The Museum will supply pedestals, as needed.
• All artwork must have a completed Artwork Label/Photo Release Form attached to it.

• Videos/films do not need to be hand-delivered. The Museum will use the file that was submitted with the entry.
• The Museum will not accept work that is unstable, damaged, or does not meet specified conditions and guidelines.
• The Museum is not responsible for damage that may occur during transportation. Students are advised to protect artwork during travel.
• Due to space constraints, the Museum cannot accommodate early delivery of artwork.

Preview Day & Certificates of Exhibition

• All exhibiting artists, and their teachers, friends, and family are invited to celebrate the opening of the exhibition during this special preview day on Saturday, March 28, 12 - 4 pm. Enjoy the exhibition before it opens to the public on March 29.
• All exhibiting artists will receive a certificate of exhibition at the Preview Day. If they are unable to attend, it will be mailed to them.

Awards

• Numerous awards will be given. Awards will be determined in person once all artwork has been delivered.
• Both teachers and students will be notified via email and/or phone if they or their student have received an award.
• Award winning artists, their teachers, family, and friends are invited to an Awards Ceremony on Saturday, March 28, 5–6:30 pm. They will be called up on stage to receive their awards. If they are unable to attend, a friend, family member, or teacher is welcome to accept the award on their behalf or it will be mailed to them.
• Winners of the top four prizes will receive an indoor banner to display in their school recognizing their achievement.
• Visitors are invited to vote for two Visitors Choice Awards during the length of the exhibition. Winners of these awards and their teachers will be notified during the last week of the exhibition. They will be mailed their award as well as an indoor banner to display in their school recognizing their achievement.

Optional Audio/Video Challenge

• Once the exhibition is juried, exhibiting students are invited to submit process/behind-the-scenes audio and video for jurying.
• Select audio/video of exhibiting students will be featured in the Museum alongside their artwork via the Museum’s Digital Guide in Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.
• An Audio/Video Challenge Application Form will be sent to all exhibiting students once jurying is complete.