Young Artists and Authors Showcase

Children’s Creative Project partners with the Santa Barbara Sister Cities Advisory Board each year to produce a local student art exhibition and competition known as the Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS), utilizing the Sister Cities International platform. Each year, Sister Cities International selects a theme for the YAAS. A panel of judges in each category selects winners, and cash prizes are provided by the Santa Barbara Cities Advisory Board.

For 2026, the theme is “Voices of Today, Visions of Tomorrow.” Students are invited to explore and express how their voices, ideas, and dreams can shape a brighter future, both locally and globally.

Students aged 13 to 18 who are enrolled in a Santa Barbara or Goleta school may submit their work to their art teacher or English teacher, or they can deliver it to our office located at 3970 La Colina Road, Suite 9, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, by March 19, 2026.

Categories for submission include Handcrafted 2D Art, Digital Art, Photography, Short Essay, and Poetry.

An artist's reception and awards presentation will be held on April 9, 2026, beginning at 4:00 pm.