Submissions Open
March 2nd
Submissions Close
April 15th
Finalists Announced
TBD
Winners Announced
TBD
Contest Categories:
- Elementary Visual Arts
- Middle School Visual Arts
- High School Visual Arts
- High School Performing Arts
Submissions: March 2 – April 15, 2026
Submissions:
March 2 – April 15, 2026
March 2 – April 15, 2026
About the Breaking Ground Art Contest
Step into The Apollo’s Breaking Ground Art Contest; a bold opportunity to shape the future of America’s most iconic Black theater.
For 92 years, The Apollo has been sacred ground for Black artists launching legends across music, comedy, and culture, from Stevie Wonder to Dave Chappelle.
Now, as we break ground on a historic renovation, The Apollo is reemerging as the nation’s largest Black performing arts center; renewed, reimagined, and rooted in Harlem.
To mark this moment, we are calling on the next generation of genre-defining artists to imagine boldly and create fearlessly. This is your invitation to leave your mark where legends are made.
The Breaking Ground Art Contest features four distinct categories across all grade levels (see submission requirements). Selected winning works will become permanent fixtures throughout The Apollo’s renovated spaces, including our lobby, gift shop, and newly launched café.
And for one high school performing arts winner, the opportunity goes even further: an automatic spot to compete in Amateur Night at The Apollo.
This is more than a contest. It’s a chance to be part of The Apollo’s next chapter.
Contest Prompt: “Got To Be There”
The Apollo has always been more than a stage — it’s a proving ground, a gathering place, and a launching pad for Black artists, voices, and movements.
From legendary performers and the legacy of Amateur Night, to Harlem’s role in shaping culture and advancing civil rights, The Apollo is a place where history is made and where futures begin.
Through your artwork, respond to the question:
“Why is The Apollo the place Black artists have always needed to be — and still need to be now?”
Your piece may draw inspiration from:
- The artists who came before and those still finding their moment
- The spirit of Showtime and/or Amateur Night at The Apollo
- Harlem as the cultural and creative heartbeat of the African Diaspora
- The Apollo as a space of possibility, transformation, and becoming
“Got To Be There” is about presence, momentum, and arrival — looking backward to look forward- capturing what it has meant to stand on The Apollo stage, and what it means to be part of The Apollo’s future.
Submission Requirements
*Must be enrolled in a NYC education program including NYC Public School's, home and hospital program, or homeschooled and a Harlem resident.
*Must either reside in Harlem or enrolled in a Harlem elementary, Middle, or High School.
* Submit a one-minute video or 250-word narrative explaining how your submission responds to the prompt and/or
For submissions using A.I- explain how artificial intelligence enhances the storytelling.
*For the visual arts categories, upload a clear jpeg or png image or video of your art that clearly demonstrates adherence to the prompt.
* Visual art must be an accepted form:
- 2D/3D Drawings
- Poetry (written)
- Sculptures (Works must not exceed a maximum of 24 inches in height and 24 inches in width or depth)
- Comic Panels (Not exceeding one page)
- Paintings (not exceeding 24x36 inches)
- Photography
* Be a High School student for Performing Art submissions
* Performing art submissions are no more than 2 minutes in length and one of the following:
- Dance
- Comedy (stand up, or sketch)
- Singing Monologues/Slam
- Poetry
Top of Contest Information
