About the Competition
Welcome to the sixth edition of the New Wave: Digital Art Competition, organised by the Directorate for STEM and VET Programmes (DSVP) within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation.
This year, the competition has been rebranded as New Wave — a name that reflects creativity, movement, and innovation. The competition continues to celebrate the imagination and talent of students who express themselves through digital art and photography.
Students attending Middle and Secondary schools (Years 7–11), from both state and non-state schools, are invited to take part by submitting one original digital artwork or photograph based on one of the following themes:
- Flowers & Leaves
- Sports
- Maltese Architecture
All selected works will be showcased in an official exhibition organised by the DSVP, where the top entries will be awarded for their creativity and impact.
Competition Rules and Guidelines
Who Can Take Part
- Open to all students attending Middle and Secondary schools (Years 7–11) in state and non-state schools.
- Each student may submit only one individual entry (no group submissions).
Artwork Requirements
- Your work must be original and unpublished.
- Do not include logos, watermarks, or brand names.
- You keep the copyright to your artwork.
- If people appear in your work, you must confirm that they’ve given permission to be included.
- By submitting your entry, you allow your name, photo, and artwork to be shown in exhibitions, Ministry websites, or media.
Technical Specifications
| File | Type | Colour Profile | Resolution Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | sRGB | 300 PPI | A4 (210 × 297 mm) |
Maximum file size: 25 MB
How Entries Are Judged
- A panel of experts in digital art and photography will review all submissions.
- The work will be assessed on creativity, artistic quality, theme interpretation and overall impact.
- All decisions made by the judging panel are final.
Winners and Exhibition
- Winners will be announced on May 2026.
- Prizes will be given for each category.
- All participants will be presented with a Certificate of Participation from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation.
- The winning works, as well as a selection of other entries, will be exhibited on the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation media platforms and others.
Submit Your Work
- Once you’ve read all the rules and prepared your artwork or photograph, you can submit your entry using the official form.
- You’ll receive a confirmation once your submission has been successfully uploaded.
- Deadline: Friday 15th April 2026, at 16:00.