Enter DAA

Our Submission Guidelines

DAA welcomes submissions from talented young artists from middle school to university, across the categories listed in the current submission form. Each submission should reflect original creative effort, with clear conceptual insight and visual impact. Please read the detailed requirements for each category below.

Rolling entries and private feedback

Check the award page for the current entry schedule. A rolling competition accepts work throughout its live period, with no shared closing date. After processing, valid AI feedback is available privately. You may opt in to publishing your title, chosen public name (or Anonymous), AI total score and rank on the provisional AI leaderboard. The cumulative ranking updates on the first of each month at 00:00 Beijing time. Eligible assessments and opt-ins completed before that cutoff join automatically; later ones wait for the following month. You can withdraw from your dashboard at any time. We currently offer rolling AI assessment and a monthly leaderboard, without formal awards. Processing time varies, and paused or failed assessments do not receive invented scores.

Questions about your work or score go through our site support center. You can follow replies, add information or request further attention there. Directory purchases do not affect entry or judging.

Read the scoring framework and comparison policy

Categories

Digital Art

Original 2D artwork created wholly or partially using digital tools (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, 3D modeling software, or AI-assisted tools). Work must be your own composition.

Submission Requirements

  • Format: .JPG or .PNG, high-resolution (300 DPI), within the 16 MiB total entry limit
  • Include title and a 150-word description
  • Clearly list software or tools used
  • AI-generated pieces must be disclosed; pure AI-generated works are not eligible

Judging Criteria

  • Concept originality and innovation
  • Technical execution and digital craftsmanship
  • Composition and visual storytelling

Drawing & Painting

Hand-drawn or hand-painted original work using any medium: pencil, ink, charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, oil, etc.

Submission Requirements

  • Format: High-quality scan or photo of artwork in .JPG or .PNG, 300 DPI
  • Total entry file size limit: 16 MiB; up to 5 files
  • Include title and a 150-word description
  • No digital alterations allowed

Judging Criteria

  • Artistic technique and manual skill
  • Emotional or conceptual depth
  • Originality and composition

Video and time-based work

Current automatic assessment uses static image evidence. It does not assess video, animation, audio or interactive behaviour. A still image is not evidence of an entire time-based work. Check the live programme and supported formats before submitting.

Photography

Original images captured with a mechanical or digital camera. Acceptable genres include conceptual, portrait, nature, documentary, and abstract.

Submission Requirements

  • Up to 8 photographs per participant
  • Format: .JPG or .PNG, minimum 300 DPI, max size per image: 10MB
  • Minor digital enhancements are allowed (lighting, cropping), no AI-generated images
  • Include title and a 150-word description for each photo

Judging Criteria

  • Composition and visual clarity
  • Thematic strength and originality
  • Emotional or intellectual resonance

Submission Divisions

Participants may submit one entry per category. All entries will be judged within their respective age divisions, with required consent from a legal parent or guardian for participants under 18.

  • Junior Division: Grades 6–8 (typically ages 11–14)
  • Senior Division: Grades 9–12 (typically ages 14–18)
  • University Division: Undergraduate students