IMAGINE - I
“IMAGINE” Art Competition is a project aimed at encouraging and inspiring teenagers by allowing them to express their interests and dreams through their artwork, while also raising awareness of society's demand and need for future artists.
In the “IMAGINE” 2022 competition, approximately 450 artworks were submitted by children aged 7 to 18. A significant number of submissions came from rural areas, including Erdenet, Darkhan, Khuvsgul, Bulgan, Umnugovi, Bayankhongor, and Zavkhan provinces, making it a standout year. The majority of the entries were from children aged 7 to 9, whose imaginative skills reflected some of the most joyful, beautiful, and bright paintings and illustrations.
An exhibition featuring all the children’s artwork was held at the Mongolian Children’s Palace, where the top 15 winners were selected.
• The first-place winners received a certificate, 400,000 MNT, and a one-month scholarship to study at the “ArtiCour” gallery.
• The second-place winners received a certificate and 300,000 MNT.
• The third-place winners received a certificate and 200,000 MNT.
Following the competition, a creative workshop was held at the Marshal Art Gallery, where the winners collaborated with artist Batka, painted together, and shared their thoughts on art, making it a memorable and inspiring day.
Impact at a glance:
A significant portion of the submissions came from younger children, whose drawings mostly depicted their teachers, parents, friends, travels, and experiences that fascinated them. In contrast, teenagers focused on expressing their personal struggles and the special attention they felt they needed from society, using their artwork as a means of self-expression.
Additionally, the competition highlighted the fact that many children have a strong passion for drawing and a great need for artistic expression. The presence of more drawing contests would provide these children with greater opportunities to participate in competitions and further develop their creative skills and encourage their parents and schools to support their artistic endeavours.
IMAGINE - II
In its second year, the “IMAGINE” art competition was organized for high school students aged 17–19. This year’s competition received around 40 submissions, with a notable emphasis on high school students aspiring to become professional artists. The quality of the submitted works reflected a strong artistic ambition and professionalism.
An exhibition featuring all the submitted artworks was held for three days at the Norpe Art Gallery, organized by the Gonchigsumlaa Foundation.
For this year’s competition:
• The top 5 winners were awarded a 1,000,000 MNT savings account at Capitron Bank.
• The top 7 winners received a 300,000 MNT scholarship.
Scholarship recipients also had the opportunity to spend a creative day at the Gonchigsumlaa Foundation, where they discussed various topics with artist Batka, including their favorite themes to draw, artistic challenges, and inspirations. They also painted together, making the experience both insightful and inspiring.
Impact at a glance:
Some of the students from Zavkhan province and Erdenet city, who had participated in the previous year’s competition, submitted their works again. Additionally, younger students (elementary and middle school) expressed interest in joining the competition.
This year’s focus on high school students resulted in fewer but high-quality submissions, primarily from those interested in pursuing a career in the arts. The project also attracted many students eager to gain experience in volunteering and working on projects, demonstrating a growing interest in creative community engagement and professional development.
IMAGINE - III
In its third year, the “IMAGINE” drawing competition was held for students aged 15–19, with an exhibition running for three days at Norpe Art Gallery.
• The top 5 winners received a 1,000,000 MNT savings account at Capitron Bank.
• The top 7 winners received a 300,000 MNT scholarship.
• Due to the high quality of submissions, the foundation’s president introduced a “Special 5” category, awarding each winner 200,000 MNT.
This year, the “Top 17” artworks were printed as posters and displayed on the honor boards of each student’s school, aiming to Recognize and support the students who created these outstanding pieces and encourage more participation from students at their schools in the following year’s competition.
Impact at a glance:
A total of 68 submissions were received. Notably, students from Zavkhan province participated for the third consecutive year. Most notably, one student has been submitting artworks as part of a series since 2022. Schools from all districts in Ulaanbaatar actively participated. Since the competition coincided with a self-study week granted by schools, the submission deadline was extended by a week, allowing more students to participate.