For the second year in a row, the National Gallery of Canada is running its national online teen art contest So You Want To Be an Artist, using facebook as a platform. 198 teens from across the country competed in the voting phase, an increase of 62% since the contest’s launch. The voting phase closed at 11:59 pm on April 30 EST. As stated in the contest rules, the ranking of the top twelve finalists is based on the most number of votes (facebook “likes”). A technical glitch on the contest website incorrectly combined the running totals for “likes” and “shares” under a single “likes” icon. Only “likes” count for voting purposes. As a result, contestants checking to see how they were doing during the contest may have been led to believe they had more votes than they did. The Gallery took action as soon as it discovered this discrepancy, by posting a notice on the contest facebook page, its primary means of communication with the contestants. It is important to note that regardless of this glitch, the selection of the finalists was accurate; all the votes cast were counted, no votes were discounted. We apologize for the distress that this situation may have caused some contestants and their families and friends.

Again this year, the Gallery is impressed by all the entries and we congratulate the contestants for their creativity and commitment.

Placement Participant UsernameTotal Likes Total Shares
1andrew_an 1827 likes8 shares
2joshua_paul_tiessen 1582 likes401 shares
3erica_phil 1393 likes132 shares
4niki_watts 1372 likes437 shares
5gabrielle_brochu 1270 likes196 shares
6paula_rayo 1264 likes1144 shares
7Dominic Cyr 1173 likes485 shares
8Lysandra 1127 likes286 shares
9sofia_becerra 1077 likes1040 shares
10Sophie Masson 1073 likes339 shares
11sydney_mckenna 991 likes213 shares
12jessica_eurêka_desrochers 976 likes570 shares
13will_chrubin_barthmitzvah 961 likes389 shares
14facebook1436723660 881 likes1313 shares
15jaymii_marie 848 likes382 shares
16shelby_lisk 649 likes539 shares
17jane_ldee_sa_pessoa 537 likes1762 shares
18julie_dumont 487 likes515 shares
19Danielle Zafirovski 474 likes24 shares
20farah_tea 467 likes657 shares

First Prize

A behind-the-scenes visit to the Gallery to learn about careers in the visual arts, an expert portfolio review by a curator and a $500 gift certificate for art supplies, generously offered by the Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa. The Gallery will arrange and pay for travel for the Contest winner and one accompanying adult to fly from their home (outside of a 100 km radius from downtown Ottawa) to Ottawa and back. The Gallery will also provide two nights’ accommodation and meals. If a contestant lives within a 100 km radius of downtown Ottawa, a $1000 gift certificate for art supplies will be substituted for the travel and accommodation portion of this prize. Total maximum value: $3500. The first-place winner will also receive a reproduction of their work on canvas graciously provided by CanvasPop.

Second Prize

A $1000 gift certificate for art supplies, offered by uOttawa’s Faculty of Arts.

Third Prize

A $500 gift certificate for art supplies, offered by uOttawa’s Faculty of Arts.

TOP 12 FINALISTS

The top 12 finalists will receive a voucher to have their artwork images printed on canvas. Graciously provided by CanvasPop

What people are saying

Share