Visual Arts Classic

The Visual Arts Classic (VAC) is a competition for art students in grades 9-12. The competition features studio categories involving a long-term project and an onsite short-term team project.

2026 THEME: "MOVEMENT"

Competition features studio categories (usually 11 or 12) based on a theme.
Students are involved in in-depth research on about a dozen selected artists whose work relates to the theme.
Scores are earned both individually and as a team.
Students have the opportunity to create artwork in response to a prompt as a “long-term” project.
Students also participate in a challenge to create artwork in response to a prompt as an “on-site” project.
Teams compete in a “Critical Thinking” team project as well as an “Art History Quiz Bowl” relating to the selected theme and artists.
There are both a Regional and State competitions.

2026 Artist List .pdf Downloadable

Click the image above to see the slide deck of long-term projects for the 2025 Visual Arts Classic.

VAC 2025 Longterm Projects Video

2026 VAC Regional Dates
Friday Feb 13 UW-Whitewater
Friday Feb 20 Platteville HS
Wed Feb 25 Mauston HS
Friday Feb 27 UW-River Falls
Friday March 6
UW-Superior, Mount Mary University
Friday March 13 UW-Stevens Point
Friday March 27 UW-La Crosse

2026 VAC State Event
Friday April 10 Edgewood College

Click the "Dashboards" image for the 2026 regional and state events.