Submissions for ArtNow 2026: Before / Between / Beyond close January 25, 2026, 11:59 PM. Submit now! (Enviar en español / Gửi bằng tiếng Việt)
New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) invites high school students across Santa Clara County to submit a work of art responding to the theme Before / Between / Beyond. Students are welcome to explore before, between, or beyond as individual ideas or any combination of the three. Submissions are open through January 25, 2026.
Before
We reside in a framework shaped by countless external forces, whether they’re social, cultural, or environmental. Over time, we form patterns of belief and behavior that are passed from person to person. They are shaped by our habits, heritage, memories, surroundings, and historical events. What do they reveal about our society? How have they shaped who we are?
Between
As we move through life, new behaviors and narratives emerge. We choose to let go of some, others we embrace, and a few transform us by giving rise to new ones. When we find ourselves at the threshold of what was and what’s next, we face a choice: to maintain our patterns or to change them. Through self-reflection, we find our path forward; these moments are significant. What does it mean to break a pattern? What compels someone to break or continue a cycle?
Beyond
As we recognize these patterns, how will we use that awareness? Each of us holds the power to shape our own lives and influence our communities. Our awareness becomes meaningful when it leads to action. Our agency lies in the choices we make about who we want to become. What should the future hold?
About ArtNow
ArtNow is an award-winning annual juried Santa Clara County high school art exhibition and educational program, presented by New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU). ArtNow offers opportunities for high school student artists, from Palo Alto to Gilroy, to gain real-world experience by participating in a juried museum exhibition. Each year, a new theme is chosen for the exhibition and students are asked to submit works based on that theme.
Questions? Email artnow@numulosgatos.org
Important Dates*
October 2025 Submissions open
January 25, 2026 Submissions close
February 20, 2026 Exhibiting artists announced
March 7, 8, 14, & 15, 2026 Artwork dropoff
March 27, 2026 Exhibition opens
May 2, 2026 ArtNow Awards Ceremony
July 19, 2026 Last day to see the exhibition
July 23-26, 2026 Artwork pickup
*Dates are best estimates & subject to change.
