Art Competition The Vltava Through Children's Eyes
For centuries, the Vltava River has inspired artists, writers, and composers.
We believe it will also spark creativity in the youngest generation.
The National Heritage Institute is announcing a children's art competition, "The Vltava Through Children's Eyes" open not only to kindergartens, elementary schools, and art schools, but also to individual participants up to the age of 17.
The competition is held to mark the 150th anniversary of the premiere of The Vltava, the symphonic poem from the cycle Má vlast (My Country) by composer Bedřich Smetana. It is part of the project “VLTAVA – Famed & Flowing”, which commemorates and celebrates this important anniversary. The aim of the competition is not only to honor this world-renowned musical masterpiece, but also to deepen the youngest generation’s understanding of the importance of the Vltava River – a symbolic axis of the country and a vital national symbol.
About the competition
The art competition is open to children and youth up to the age of 17. Both individuals and school or extracurricular groups can participate.
Competition age categories:
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Kindergarten (up to 6 years old)
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Children from grades 1 to 5
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Children from grades 6 to 9 of elementary school and first-year students of multi-year grammar schools
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High school students aged 16-17
Task Description
The central theme for all works will be the Vltava River in its broadest context. Young artists may find inspiration in, for example, the nature of the Vltava, water and winter sports (such as rafting, yachting, ice skating, etc.), waterworks (dams, bridges) and structures (forges, mills, sawmills, hydropower plants), landmarks (castles, châteaux, monasteries, towns, statues of St. John of Nepomuk, raft transport or river navigation, as well as fairy tales, myths, and legends (such as Devil's Wall, water sprites, water nymphs, Libuše, Horymír, etc.).
Competition rules
Maximum size:
- For flat works: 70 x 50 cm
- For 3D works: 50 x 50 x 50 cm
- This applies even to collective works.
Art techniques: Painting, drawing, graphics, mixed techniques, photography, animation, 3D objects.
Each work must be labeled on the back with the author's first and last name, age, title of the work, and, if applicable, the name and address of the school or educational institution.
Number of works submitted:
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For kindergartens, a maximum of 5 works per class can be submitted.
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For elementary schools, high schools, and art schools, a maximum of 10 works per class can be submitted.
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Individuals may submit a maximum of 2 works per author.
Works that may be prone to color smudging must be fixed. Flat works will only be accepted unframed and sent or brought in an envelope or folder (not rolled).
Submission of competition works
The competition is announced as of January 1, 2025.
Works, along with a completed application form, must be submitted by June 30, 2025 (either by mail or in person) to the following address:
National Heritage Institute
Valdštejnské náměstí 162/3
118 01 Prague 1
Please label the envelope with the word VLTAVA.
We would like to inform in advance that it is not possible for us to return the artwork!
Contact for submitting competition works
Poster for the Art Competition for Download (in Czech)
DownloadEvaluation of the competition and announcement of the winners
Based on the selection made by a committee consisting of representatives of the competition organizers, curators from the National Gallery and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, selected artworks will proceed to the semifinals.
In each category, two prizes will be awarded – the Expert Jury Prize and the Public Vote Prize. You can vote for the winner of the Public Vote Prize from July 14 to August 31 on the project website.
The list of winners will be announced on September 1, 2025, on the website www.vltava2025.cz.
The winning works will be exhibited from September 5, 2025, at the Prague castle Riding School as part of the exhibition VLTAVA – Famed & Flowing, or at a selected heritage site managed by the National Heritage Institute.
Prizes for the winners
The main prize for individuals in each category is an annual pass for two people to heritage sites managed by the National Heritage Institute, as well as a free entry ticket for two people to the exhibition VLTAVA – Famed & Flowing at the Prague Castle Riding School, including a complementary program.
The winning group will receive a group ticket to a selected heritage site managed by the National Heritage Institute, as well as a group ticket to the VLTAVA – Famed & Flowing exhibition at the Prague Castle Riding School, with a complementary program.
In addition, exciting material prizes are also prepared.
The partner of the competition is KOH-I-NOOR HARDTMUTH a.s., a traditional Czech manufacturer of art supplies.
