Presented by the EVPL Foundation, Veterans for Peace Evansville, and Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry
What does peace mean to you? Children ages 6–15 are invited to submit their best original artwork to the Peaceful Towns Art Competition! This competition is held annually by Mayors for Peace, which Evansville joined in 2024.
This international competition is open locally to children who live in Evansville or attend school in Vanderburgh County and are ages 6–15 as of Nov. 1, 2026.
Contest Details
- Age categories: 6–10 and 11–15
- Theme: What Does Peace Mean to Me
- Prizes: Winners in each age category will receive a cash prize, made possible by a grant from Veterans for Peace Evansville.
- Entry packets: Pick up a packet at any EVPL location beginning Monday, Sep. 28. Each packet includes the contest rules, official drawing paper, and an application.
- Entry deadline: Return completed artwork to any EVPL location by Monday, Oct. 19.
- Art exhibition: All entries will be displayed in the EVPL Central READ Center from Nov. 1 to 10.
- Reception: Join us in the EVPL Central READ Center on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 5:30 – 6:30 pm to celebrate the artists.
Eligibilty
This competition is open to all residents of Evansville, ages 6 to 15, including students at all Evansville and Vanderburgh County schools (public and private).
Judging
Artwork will be judged by a panel of local individuals selected by Veterans for Peace Evansville. Judging will determine the top five entries in each age category (ages 6 to 10 and ages 11 to 15). Veterans for Peace Evansville has granted the following cash awards for each category:
- 1st place: $250
- 2nd place: $150
- 3rd place: $75
- Honorable Mentions (2): $25
Mayor Terry’s office will submit the winning entries to the Mayors for Peace Secretariat in Hiroshima, Japan, for consideration in the international competition. Winning entries at this level will be used on document folders that Mayors for Peace use throughout the year in furtherance of its work to educate and advocate for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
About Veterans for Peace Evansville
Veterans for Peace is a progressive pro-peace organization that is open to veterans and supporters. Membership is open to ALL, veterans and non-veterans alike, who share our belief that peace is possible and is worth working for.
About Mayors for Peace
The purposes of the “Mayors for Peace” are to contribute to the attainment of lasting world peace by arousing concern among citizens of the world for the total abolition of nuclear weapons through close solidarity among member cities as well as by striving to solve vital problems for the human race such as starvation and poverty, the plight of refugees, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation.
As of September 1, 2026, there are 8,608 member cities in 166 countries and regions.
The competition is brought to you by: the EVPL Foundation, Veterans for Peace Evansville, the City of Evansville, the Indiana Arts Commission, and EVPL.
