By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies described in our privacy policy.

Login
Mobile Nav
Login

Entry Details

2026 Art and Poster Contest Subtheme:
Shaping Our Future: Building Stronger Communities Together

To download the rules packet, click here:

All submissions must first be sent to your local AHMA, which has an earlier deadline. To learn when these deadlines are, please call your local AHMA. To find your local AHMA, click here: AHMA Directory. The deadline for AHMAs to send their winning submissions to NAHMA is June 5, 2026.

2026 Art and Poster Contest for the 2027 NAHMA Calendar

The National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) is proud to kick off the annual Drug-Free Kids art/calendar contest. We anticipate that more than 5,000 children, seniors, and residents with special needs nationwide will participate in this year’s calendar art contest.

We have added a subtheme to reinforce a more positive use of time and encourage a broader range of submissions. The contest’s underlying message will remain a drug-free theme, but we also wanted to open the door to more avenues of expression. The subtheme for the 2026 contest is Shaping Our Future: Building Stronger Communities Together.

Below are contest rules and tips from various Affordable Housing Management Associations (AHMAs), property management companies, and on-site property managers on how to hold an art contest. If you require additional information on NAHMA’s national finalists’ contest, please contact Brenda Moser at the NAHMA office at 703-683-8630, ext. 1.

Contest Rules

Who is eligible to enter the calendar contest?

Children
Children who live in a family community of a NAHMA and/or a local AHMA member company.

Seniors
Residents who are 55 years or older who live in a community of a NAHMA and/or a local AHMA member company.

Residents with Special Needs
Residents who live in a permanent supportive housing community or Section 811 community of a NAHMA and/or a local AHMA member company.

How does the contest work?
Local AHMAs will select up to three winning posters, photographs*, websites*, computer art* or other media* such as tile, macramé, needlework, etc., which must be submitted as a photograph from each category (i.e., seniors, residents with special needs and each children’s grade level). *See detailed descriptions for format and size in another section of the contest rules.

The five grade categories for children are based on the grade level the contestants have completed by June 2026:

  • Kindergarten-first grade
  • Second-third grade
  • Fourth-sixth grade
  • Seventh-ninth grade
  • 10th-12th grade

While we encourage community activities to discuss the theme and contest rules, ENTRIES MUST BE CREATED BY THE INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.

All AHMA winning submissions are forwarded to NAHMA, where a distinguished panel of judges will select the 13 winning entries that will appear on the pages of the 2027 calendar, including submissions from children, seniors, and residents with special needs. One exceptional entry will be selected as the grand prizewinner, which will appear on the cover. Only children are eligible to become grand prizewinners.

All art submitted to NAHMA becomes the property of NAHMA, and NAHMA has the right to use the art for publicity, publications, and advertisements.

How are the art submissions judged?
Entries are judged on the artist’s ability to create a submission with the Shaping Our Future: Building Stronger Communities Together contest subtheme. The artwork must be original and cannot be a replica or reproduction of someone else’s creation. Artwork that is not original will be disqualified.

Specifically, judges consider:

  • Representation of the subtheme Shaping Our Future: Building Stronger Communities Together
  • Originality of the submission.
  • Quality: Is the art submission visually appealing?
  • Overall Artistic Ability: Does the art submission show some degree of creativity and skill for its age group? Will the submission be able to be reproduced with reasonable quality and clarity?

What specifications must the artistic submission meet to enter?

  • Posters must be done on poster board (or heavy art paper) measuring 22 inches x 28 inches.
  • Any media may be used for the posters, including paints, crayons, colored pencils, chalk, and collage, but contestants are advised to ensure that the media selected:
    • Results in a flat surface, and
    • Can be adequately protected against damage.
  • The poster must be marked clearly with the official entry form attached.
  • Photography can be in color or black and white and must measure at least 8 inches x 10 inches, but not larger than 22 inches x 28 inches.
  • Website design: webpages must be printed in color, measure 8.5 inches x 11 inches, and then mounted to poster board measuring 22 inches x 28 inches.
  • Digital art must be printed and measure at least 8.5 inches x 11 inches, but not larger than 22 inches x 28 inches.
  • Other media, such as tile, macramé, carving, quilting, needlework, etc., must be submitted as a photograph measuring at least 8 inches x 10 inches but not larger than 22 inches x 28 inches.

    Not allowed on any poster or other art forms are trademarked cartoon characters, proper names of individuals, product brands, or the name of the development or AHMA. Submissions from an AHMA that have any of these items will be disqualified.

The official form (see links at the top of the webpage) with the following information being legible (i.e., printed or typed) and attached to each submission.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Your artwork will be disqualified if your complete contact information is not included.

Children

  • Artist’s name
  • Pronouns
  • Age/Date of Birth
  • Grade completed in June of 2026
  • Grade level indicated (i.e., K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9 or 10-12)
  • Name of school
  • Name of the development where the child lives
  • Child’s address and phone number
  • Name of the child’s parent or guardian
  • Name of resident manager/phone number/email address
  • Name of the management company for development
  • Name of AHMA

Seniors & Residents with Special Needs

  • Artist’s name
  • Pronouns
  • Complete mailing address and phone number
  • Name of resident manager/phone number/email address
  • Name of the management company for development
  • Name of AHMA
  • Each entry MUST be marked and contain the above information.
  • Incomplete submissions will be immediately disqualified and returned to the AHMA.

When is the deadline?
The deadline for AHMA entries to the national contest must be received by NAHMA no later than Friday, June 5, 2026. Entries must first be sent to your local AHMA, which has an earlier deadline. To learn when these deadlines are, please call your local AHMA.

Honorable Mentions
Children, seniors, and residents with special needs in our communities nationwide who participate in the annual art contests held by regional and state AHMAs are eligible to be selected as regional AHMA art contest Honorable Mentions. Their artwork will be featured nationally in a special section of the NAHMA 2027 Drug-Free Kids Calendar. These participants are in addition to the national winners.

What are the contest prizes?
The winners of each local AHMA’s contest receive various prizes from the AHMA.

All national contest winners receive educational scholarships in the form of a NAHMA Educational Foundation check. All national winners will appear in the 2027 calendar with a short artist bio and photo.

The national contest’s grand prizewinner, whose art will appear on the calendar’s cover, receives an educational scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.C., where he or she will be honored at the NAHMA Biannual Top Issues in Affordable Housing Conference in November 2026.

NAHMA Prizes

  • Grand Prizewinner: $2,500 check and a trip to Washington, D.C.
  • National Winners: $1,000 check
  • Honorable Mentions: $100 check

There are contest-specific entry forms for Seniors & Residents with Special Needs and for Children. Please encourage residents to complete the appropriate form legibly. The person submitting the required forms is responsible for translating any forms submitted in a language other than English before submitting them to NAHMA. The complete rules and entry forms packet can be downloaded using the links at the top of this webpage.