Urban Sketchers Emerging Storytellers Program 2026

About this call

#USkEmergingStorytellers is a campaign by Urban Sketchers looking to showcase reportage artists and visual storytellers aged 18 to 25. Reportage is a visual account of an event, a cultural phenomenon or life in a local community, based on drawings made from direct observation on location and accompanied by short pieces of narrative writing informed by firsthand accounts, research and interviews. Sketchers of all abilities and styles are encouraged to apply. Applications are evaluated by the USk Education Team, and the projects selected for an award will be announced in January 2027.

Who can apply

• Open to applicants of any nationality
• Medium: Drawing
• Entry fee: See official site
• All work must be completed by artists who will be aged 18 to 25 at the time the project is submitted. Apply to take part through the form on the page, receive further details, then send the final project no later than 31 December 2026; the page does not state a separate deadline for the application form. Sketches are made from direct observation on location and accompanied by short narrative writing, on the drawings or separately. Applications are judged on alignment with the Urban Sketchers manifesto, storytelling potential in drawings and narrative text, showing a unique aspect of a community, place, time, event or larger culture, potential to be developed into a complete and compelling story, use of the art materials provided, and evidence of sharing on social media with #UrbanSketchers and #USkEmergingStorytellers. Document the project in photos, videos and other media. Text may be submitted in other languages, and submitted text may be edited. The page does not state an application fee.