International Children’s Painting Festival

Colors of Paradise – International Children’s Painting Festival

Colors of Paradise – International Children’s Painting Festival 2025

1. Competition Overview The Colors of Paradise International Painting Festival invites young artists from around the world to celebrate Shiraz cultural heritage and its diverse historical and natural attractions through creativity and imagination.

Alongside works inspired by Shiraz, the festival will feature an exhibition of children's paintings reflecting their own cultural heritage. This helps participants connect with their heritage while allowing Shiraz's children and residents to experience the richness of global cultures through the eyes of young artists.

Participation is free of charge, making the festival a truly inclusive platform for creativity, dialogue and friendship.

2. Age Eligibility Children and teenagers aged between 7 and 15 years (as of 31 December 2025) may participate. The competition is divided into two categories:

• Group A: Ages 7–10 years

• Group B: Ages 11–15 years

3. Sections of the Competition

There are two sections in the competition:

A. Main Section – “Colors of Paradise" Shiraz” Participants are invited to paint or draw scenes inspired by Shiraz — its cultural heritage, gardens, monuments, or landmarks. Each participant may submit up to three (3) artworks.

B. Side Section – “My City, My Heritage:” Participants are invited and encouraged to create one additional painting inspired by their own city, town, or heritage. All works submitted to this section will be exhibited in Shiraz as part of the international showcase.

4. Submission and Registration

• The registration form must be completed by a parent or legal guardian. 

• The registration form must include accurate information for both the child and guardian.

• Each participant may send up to three artworks for the main section and one for the side section.

• All entries (together with the filled-in registration form) must be sent through email to sicp.festival@gmail.com.

• Submission implies acceptance of all terms and conditions.

• The organizers shall not be held responsible for any technical issues, network failures, or late submissions due to internet disruptions.

• Uploaded files should be clear, high-resolution images (300 dpi/maximum 5 MB each).

5. Artwork Requirements

• Each entry must be an original, hand-made creation.

• Works must be entirely hand-made using traditional techniques such as watercolor, acrylic, oil, crayons.

• Artworks found to be copied, traced, or AI/digitally/computer-assisted will be disqualified.

• The artwork should reflect either the theme of Shiraz or the participant’s own city's heritage, depending on the section.

• Artworks must be no smaller than A3 size and unframed.

6. Prizes and Recognition

Main section

• First Prize: Round-trip ticket to Shiraz and four nights of accommodation for the winner and two legal guardians.

• Second Prize: Four nights of accommodation in Shiraz for the winner and two legal guardians.

• Third Prize: $200 All winners receive certificates and commemorative souvenirs. Side Section

• Top Recognition Award: Four-night stay in Shiraz for the winner and two guardians, or a $200 cash prize (for international winners, where applicable).

• Certificates of Distinction will be awarded to selected finalists. 

• Award for the side section can only be considered if the applicant has participated in the main section.

• Under certain conditions, the secretariat may consider to replace the travel-package prizes with cash prizes in which case the total amount prize will NOT exceed 500 USD.

• Certificates of Participation will be issued to all participants upon request.

• Participant may receive only one prize, regardless of the number of submissions.

7. Evaluation and Jury

Entries will be reviewed by a professional jury composed of artists and educators. The jury’s decision is final and cannot be appealed. Evaluation criteria include originality, creativity, adherence to theme, and artistic technique.

8. Usage Rights and Exhibition

• By submitting artworks, participants grant permission for their work to be displayed, reproduced, and published in print or online for educational or promotional purposes. All uses will include credit to the artist. Selected artworks may be featured in public exhibitions, digital galleries, and cultural events in Shiraz and abroad.

• Artworks may be used for cultural and educational promotion only. No commercial use will be made without prior consent of the participants or their guardians.

• Personal information collected from participants and their legal guardians will be used solely for the purposes of registration, communication, and administration of the festival. Such information will not be shared, sold, or used for any other purpose.

9. Timeline

• Call for entries opens: December 2025

• Deadline for submissions: Midnight, 15 March 2026, (IRST) (+3.5 GMT)

• Results announced: April 2026

• Selected works exhibited in Shiraz and online gallery: May and June 2026 General Terms and Conditions

• All the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be applicable to this festival.

• By participating in the festival, all applicants and/or their guardians are deemed to have read and accepted these terms and conditions.

• By submitting applications, the participants and their parents or legal guardians accept and agree with all the rules and conditions of the festival.

• Participants must ensure that their artworks do not infringe upon any copyright or third-party rights.

• The festival secretariat, International Relations Office of Shiraz Municipality, reserves the right to cancel the festival partly or fully or modify the terms and conditions partly or fully without assigning any specific reason and/or any prior notice.

• The secretariat will be the final authority to decide and/or settle any dispute of whatsoever nature arising out of or connected to this festival and the decision of the secretary will be final and non-appealable in all such matters.

• All communications regarding the contest will be in English language only.

Contact Information For details, registration, and updates:

Tel.: +98 7133239740-41

Email: sicp.festival@gmail.com

Instagram: @shiraz.intl

Address: International Relations Office, 7th Floor, City Hall, Rahnamaei St., Shiraz

Contact hours: Saturday to Wednesday, from 07:30 to 14:30 (Iran Standard Time) equivalent to 04:00 to 11:00 GMT.

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Colors of Paradise 

Shiraz is opening its doors to the world — through the eyes and imagination of children 

 We invite young artists aged 7–15 from around the world to paint Shiraz, its gardens, monuments, and heritage — and, if they wish, to share a painting of their own city too.

 This is more than a competition.

 

It’s a celebration of creativity, friendship, and cultural exchange.

 

Paint your way  to Shiraz!

 Submission deadline: 15 March 2026

 Parent/guardian registration required

 

 Register & submit artworks here (preferably):

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNkE3G0QTnQzw4juWUG-hO-yh1TKYy1odjYgyoFfqOPS6y2w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111420217488942389444

  Note: This Google Forms link works best in Chrome and on some devices only. If the link does not open or display correctly on your phone or browser, you can still participate:

  Alternative option:

Download and fill out the attached form, type the required details manually, then send your completed form and images of your artwork to our email:

 sicp.festival@gmail.com

 Terms & conditions

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2mxeedfnzssydvz5aunv2/Terms-and-Conditions.pdf?rlkey=3r24xlkp9q72c6qedvzi1avsk&st=q7tnarv9&dl=0

 Registration

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/weiolrym998q6iff5oyum/Registration-form.pdf?rlkey=qa51gmaiz434qlffjfx5ucqga&st=6m21z8ah&dl=0

 

 Follow our Instagram @shiraz.intl  for updates, featured artworks, and future international cultural and tourism programs connecting Shiraz with the world 

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Colors of Paradise – Registration & Submission Form

Please complete this form and email it together with up to four (4) scanned images of artworks to:
sicp.festival@gmail.com

Note: In the subject of the email write the child's full name and the city in the following format: First Name-Last Name-City (e.g., Reza-Moradi-Shiraz)

This form must be completed by a parent or legal guardian.

1. Guardian Information

Full Name:
______________________________

Relationship to Child:
______________________________

Nationality:
______________________________

Email Address:
______________________________

Phone / cellphone (preferably connected to WhatsApp)
______________________________

Postal Address:
______________________________

2. Child Information

Child’s Full Name:
______________________________

Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY):
______________________________

Age Group (7–10 / 11–15):
______________________________

Nationality:
______________________________

City & Country of Residence:
______________________________

3. Artwork Information

Main Section – “Colors of Paradise: Shiraz” (maximum 3 artworks)

Artwork 1 – Short Description (max 20 words):
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Artwork 2 – Short Description (max 20 words):
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Artwork 3 – Short Description (max 20 words):
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Side Section – “My City, My Heritage” (optional – maximum 1 artwork)

Artwork Description (max 20 words):
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

4. Submission Checklist

☐ Up to 3 photos for Main Section
☐ Up to 1 photo for Side Section
☐ Each image is clear and high resolution (300 dpi/max 5 MB per file)
☐ Each artwork is original and hand-made

5. Declaration & Consent

I confirm that:
• I am the parent or legal guardian of the child mentioned above.
• All submitted artworks are original, hand-made, and created by my child.
• I have read and understood the official Terms & Conditions of the Colors of Paradise International Children’s Painting Festival 2025.
• I agree to all rules, usage rights, and data policies stated therein.

Guardian’s Full Name:
______________________________

Signature:
______________________________

Date:
______________________________