Art for Impact Challenge

Challenge Duration: June 15 - Sept 1, 2026

Status: Join anytime

Submissions Due: Sept 1, 2026

In collaboration with Sycomore and Gaia Changemaker Education.

Join the Art for Impact Challenge

Register to get the most out of the challenge.

Whether you're a student, educator, or learning together as a class, registration gives you access to the full Art for Impact experience, including:

  • Challenge updates and reminders

  • Creative activities and inspiration throughout the program

  • Special events and supplemental programming

  • A printable participation certificate

  • The opportunity to have your work featured on Sycomore's website and social media channels

Then, create and submit an original artwork that explores your connection with nature and inspires positive action for the planet.

Join a growing community of young artists and educators using creativity to spark environmental awareness and change.

Register today to participate..

Register Here - Join the Challenge

How it works

1. Register

Sign up for the Art for Impact Challenge to unlock the full experience. You'll receive challenge updates, reminders, creative inspiration, and access to special activities throughout the program.

2. Explore and create

Choose a challenge level or take part in emailed activities. Use art to explore your connection with nature, express your ideas, and inspire positive change.

3. Share and Celebrate

Share your work with the community on Discord, and tag us on social media to showcase your creations. When you're ready, submit your favorite piece by September 1 for a chance to be featured on Sycomore's website and social channels, and to receive your certificate.

Select your impact Journey

Art is more than something we make. It’s a way to explore ideas, express feelings, and create change.

When we create, we use our head to imagine new possibilities, our heart to connect with what matters, and our hands to bring ideas to life. Art can help us build a deeper relationship with nature, inspire others, and turn our creativity into action.

This challenge invites you to use your creativity to make a positive impact—starting with yourself and growing outward to your community and the wider world.

Which Level Is Right for You? Ask yourself: Who do I want my art to impact?

  • Level 1: Personal Development

    How can art help me connect more deeply with nature and the Earth?

    Challenge Ideas

    • Nature journaling

    • Photography walks

    • Paint your favorite ecosystem

    • Create natural dyes

    • Write a poem to the Earth

    • Compose a piece of music inspired by nature

  • Level 2: My Community

    How can my art inspire my family, friends, school, or local community to care for nature?


    Challenge Ideas

    • Run an art session with friends

    • Create a mural

    • Build sculptures from waste

    • Organize a school exhibition

    • Host a family art-for-nature event

  • Level 3: The Wider World

    How can my art reach beyond my community and encourage change on a larger scale?

    Challenge Ideas

    • Public exhibitions

    • Social media campaigns

    • Art installations

    • Community clean-up + art project

    • Partner with local government or organizations

  • All levels: Reflection Questions

    To consider throughout your journey:

    • How do artists use recycled materials or incorporate nature into their work?

    •  How can color and shape influence emotions?

    •  What makes a visual message powerful?

    To reflect on after your journey:

    • What did you notice?

    • How has your relationship with nature changed?

    • What surprised you?

Submit your project.

Art for Impact

Your tasks:

  • Engage in an art activity of your choice.

  • Share your creation.

  • Written works, mp4s, pngs, and jpg are all the best formats to use to submit and share your work.

Click the button below and fill out the form to complete the process.

Submit

Deeper Learning

  • Ways to take action

    • Reduce and recycle waste by creating art with it

      • Sculptures with a story

      • Jewellery

      • Clothing or bags

    • Make art with and from Nature 

      • E.g.Natural dyes, nature based raw materials, Essential oils

      • Make art with patterns of nature

      • Creating a “seed” : Make a painting or scultpture of a seed, and in it, draw the figurative seed of change you want to plant with it. 

    • Create art that connects us with Nature

      • Music, Dance, Drama, Sculptures, Paint, Write.

      • Sing outside to connect with your local environment forest, beach, trees, parks etc . The focus is to NOTICE and FEEL how beautiful it is,  

      • Create art to raise awareness for the challenges that the Nature in your community is facing.

        • Do a street/beach/river/lake clean up and make something beautiful out of that trash. 

    • Create art with your community

      • Organise a drive at your school/local community for certain waste and then create art from it. 

    • Attend the in-person Gaia Changemakers Art For Impact Week or find a local Art Festival to meet other artists or showcase your work

  • Using Art to Inspire Impact- WWF article

    Unveiling the Power of Art to Create Social Change - Harvard Social Impact Review

  • Nature Journaling: Advice and Curriculum

    How to make natural paints. Click here

Thanks to our partners!