REGULATIONS International Art Competition “Kazakhstan Through My Eyes”
 

I. Purpose of the Competition
“Kazakhstan Through My Eyes” is an online art competition for ethnic Kazakh children living abroad.
The competition aims to encourage participants to creatively express their vision of Kazakhstan, their love for their homeland, its historical and cultural heritage, natural beauty, national values, and aspirations for the future.
The main objectives of the competition are:
— To strengthen the spiritual connection of ethnic Kazakh children living abroad with Kazakhstan;
— To promote the culture and national values of Kazakhstan;
— To develop the creative abilities of young artists;
— To identify and support talented ethnic Kazakh children;
— To foster love and appreciation for their historical homeland.

II. Organization and Conduct of the Competition
1.    Ethnic Kazakh children aged 12–17 living abroad are eligible to participate. To confirm Kazakh ethnicity and foreign citizenship, participants must submit a copy of their passport together with their artwork.
2.    Submitted artwork must correspond to the theme “Kazakhstan Through My Eyes.”
3.    When submitting an entry, participants must provide the following:
•    Personal information (full name, citizenship, school and grade, contact number);
•    A self-introduction video of no more than 2 minutes explaining themselves and their artwork;
•    A video recording of the drawing process, no longer than 3 minutes, to confirm authorship of the artwork, as well as several additional artworks created by the participant.
4.    Entries will be accepted until August 28, 2026, via email at oqbaiqau@gmail.com.
 

III. Artwork Requirements
1.    The competition accepts digital versions of hand-drawn artworks created on paper.
2.    Participants may use any traditional art materials and tools, including:
— Pencil;
— Colored pencils;
— Markers;
— Watercolor paints;
— Gouache;
— Oil paints;
— Pastels;
— Charcoal;
— Acrylic paints;
— Gel pens;
— Other artistic drawing materials.
3.    Artwork may cover the following themes:
— Nature of Kazakhstan;
— Historical and cultural monuments;
— National customs and traditions;
— Everyday life of the Kazakh people;
— National holidays and celebrations;
— Landmarks of Kazakhstan;
— Visions and aspirations for the future of Kazakhstan.
4.    Each participant may submit multiple artworks.
5.    Only original works created by the participant will be accepted.
6.    Artwork created or edited using Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not be accepted.
7.    By submitting an artwork, participants grant the organizer permission to display and publish it on official websites, social media platforms, and exhibitions.
8.    Entries must be submitted in JPEG, JPG, PNG, or PDF format.

IV. Evaluation Criteria
1. Relevance to the Theme
The extent to which the artwork fully and meaningfully reflects the theme “Kazakhstan Through My Eyes.”
2. Creativity
The originality of the idea, imagination, and creative approach demonstrated by the participant.
3. Artistic Skill
The quality of drawing technique, composition, color harmony, proportions, and overall execution.
4. National Content
The effectiveness of depicting Kazakhstan’s culture, history, nature, and national values.
5. Emotional Impact
The artwork’s ability to convey the author’s thoughts and emotions and to engage the viewer.

V. Competition Timeline
Creative works will be accepted from June 17 to August 28, 2026.
The jury will determine the winners within 30 calendar days after the submission deadline.

VI. Competition Results and Awards
Based on the jury’s decision, 10 winners will be selected.
Winners will receive First-, Second-, and Third-Degree Diplomas, as well as special prizes:
— 1st Place – Laptop;
— 2nd Place – Tablet;
— 3rd Place – Smartwatch.
Encouragement Prize:
•    Bestemshe traditional board game.
The best artworks will be published on the organizers’ official information resources and featured in an online exhibition.
In addition, the 10 participants whose works are recognized as the best may be required to send the original artwork to the Otandastar Qory (NJSC) at their own expense.