Are you a high school artist with a creative idea for celebrating the places that make West Central Idaho special?
Payette Land Trust is inviting high school students in Valley, Adams, and Idaho Counties to submit artwork for the 2026/2027 Conserving the Heart of Idaho Student Art Contest.
Up to four student artists will be selected to transform a 12-inch, three-dimensional fiberglass heart into an original work of art. Your design can use any medium and should connect to the natural environment of West Central Idaho. The sky is the limit! You could create a heart celebrating our incredible night skies, wildlife, wildflowers, rivers, mountains, agriculture, recreation, or whatever inspires you about this special place.
The finished student hearts will be displayed alongside PLT’s larger, four-foot BIG HEART, created by local artist Kim Thompson, from late December through early February. All of the hearts will then be auctioned at PLT’s SweetHEART Party & Auction on February 13, 2027, at the Shore Lodge in McCall.
Selected artists will receive:
- $200 prize
- Up to $125 in materials provided by PLT
- An invitation to the SweetHEART event
Ready to create?
Submit a photo or scan of your proposed design by October 19, 2026 to pltheart@payettelandtrust.org.
Your submission should include your artwork design (front and back – think about how you will tie all the sides together), a title, your name, school and grade, contact information, a brief explanation of your idea and how it relates to Conserving the Heart of Idaho, and photos of three examples of your previous artwork.
Questions? Email pltheart@payettelandtrust.org.
We can’t wait to see how local student artists interpret the Heart of Idaho!
The complete request for submissions and heart templates you can print out can be downloaded here:
Artist Info and ApplicationQuestions? Email pltheart@payettelandtrust.org
PLT Hearts Photos