Where does the bus take you? What about the light rail?
Maybe it's to school, to your best friend's house, or to a museum full of things you've never seen before. Maybe it's to somewhere you've never been at all.
That question is at the heart of VTA's newest creative collab, Next Stop: Imagination! An art contest inviting young artists across Santa Clara County to imagine where VTA can take them next. VTA’s teamed up with three incredible local institutions, the Children's Discovery Museum, The Tech Interactive, and the San José Museum of Art, to turn imagination into real, rideable art throughout the community. Young artists will submit their artwork, and the chosen pieces will end up on VTA vehicles or transit stops to be seen by thousands of riders.
The Theme
Next Stop: Imagination! Think about your own rides on the bus or light rail. Who do you see? Where do you go? How does that ride connect you to people, places, and possibilities?
We want artists to capture that feeling: the everyday adventure of public transit, and the endless imagination it can spark.
Who Can Enter
The contest is open to three age groups; each paired with a partner museum:
-
10 and under: judged by the Children's Discovery Museum
-
11 to 17: judged by The Tech Interactive
-
18 to 25: judged by the San José Museum of Art
What to Know Before You Submit
Deadlines, size requirements, and accepted materials vary by museum, so check with your age group's partner institution for the exact details. A couple of guidelines apply across the board:
-
Originality: All artwork must be original. AI-generated artwork will not be accepted.
-
Paperwork: A signed release form is required for every entry (a parent or guardian must sign for artists under 18), along with a submission form including the artist's name, title and description of the piece, medium, and dimensions.
What Winners Get
One winner will be selected by each museum, with their artwork featured on VTA vehicles or transit stops across Santa Clara County. Ready to Create? We can't wait to see where your imagination takes us.