In celebration of the Princeton Alumni Association’s 200th anniversary, the Princeton Club of Southern California (PCSC) is introducing the Southern California Orange & Black Day Community Art Challenge, a new participatory creative initiative culminating at PCSC’s Orange & Black Day celebration on October 25, 2026.
Members of the Southern California Princeton community are invited to create original artwork interpreting “Princeton Alumni Association at 200 through the lens of the Southern California.” Artists of all ages and experience levels are welcome. Artwork may be created in any medium, but each entry must be submitted as one clear still digital image. Generative AI-created or AI-modified artwork is not permitted.
All qualifying submissions will be included in an online community exhibition with artist attribution and optional artist statements. One submission will be selected as the featured artwork for PCSC’s 2026 Orange & Black Day, appearing in digital and printed event communications and reproduced for display at the October 25 celebration. Artists retain ownership of their work.
The Challenge creates multiple ways to participate: creating artwork, viewing the exhibition, discovering creative members of the Southern California Princeton community, and attending the in-person Orange & Black Day event. The project was developed in connection with Princeton Alumni Association’s 200th anniversary and is made possible by support from the Princeton 200th Spark Fund.
Important Dates to Remember
ONLINE SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Monday, October 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM
OPENING RECEPTION: Oct 25, 2026, 2-4PM
Submission Guidelines
THE PROMPT
Create an original artwork interpreting:
“Princeton Alumni Association at 200 through the lens of the Southern California.”
We are interested in your individual interpretation of Princeton, its alumni community, the 200th anniversary, Southern California, or the connections among them. Professional artistic experience is not required.
WHO MAY PARTICIPATE
The Challenge is open to eligible members of the Southern California Princeton community: Princeton alumni, spouses of alumni, widows and widowers of alumni, parents, children (including adopted children and stepchildren), siblings, and grandchildren of Princeton alumni.
All ages and experience levels are welcome. Artists under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian complete the required permissions.
ARTWORK
Artwork may be created in any medium. Each entry must be represented by one clear still digital image for submission and online exhibition.
Video and animation submissions are not accepted.
The artwork should stand on its own. Do not incorporate Orange & Black Day dates, venue information, registration instructions, or other event promotional copy into the artwork.
Official PCSC and Princeton 200th anniversary logos may be provided as optional resources. They are not required, provide no judging advantage, and may not be altered if used.
GENERATIVE AI
Submitted artwork must be the artist’s original creation. Generative AI may not be used to create or replace any part of the artwork, including text-to-image generation, image-to-image generation, generative fill, or generated components.
SELECTION AND EXHIBITION
All qualifying submissions will be included in the Community Art Challenge online exhibition. One work will be selected as the featured artwork for PCSC’s 2026 Orange & Black Day communications and event materials.
Selection will consider the work’s connection to the prompt, originality and artistic expression, community resonance, and effectiveness as the visual centerpiece of Orange & Black Day materials. Professional polish alone is not the objective.
IMPORTANT DATES
Submission deadline: Monday, October 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT
Eligibility review: October 6
Jury review: October 7–12
Featured artwork selected: October 12
Online exhibition / featured artwork announcement target: October 13
Orange & Black Day exhibition: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 2:00–4:00 PM PT
Eligibility Criteria
Additional Requirements
Must be a Princeton alumnus/a or eligible family member of a Princeton alumnus/a: spouse, widow/widower, parent, child including adopted or stepchild, sibling, or grandchild.
Artist must be part of the Southern California Princeton community.
All ages and experience levels are eligible.
Submitted work must be the entrant’s original creation.
Generative AI-created or AI-modified artwork is not eligible.
One entry per artist.
Submission Checklist
Before submitting, please confirm that:
• You meet the Southern California and Princeton-community eligibility requirements.
• You are submitting one original artwork as one clear still digital image.
• Your work responds to the Community Art Challenge prompt.
• No generative AI was used to create or replace any part of the artwork.
Full Requirements
Before submitting, please confirm that:
• You meet the Southern California and Princeton-community eligibility requirements.
• You are submitting one original artwork as one clear still digital image.
• Your work responds to the Community Art Challenge prompt.
• No generative AI was used to create or replace any part of the artwork.
• Your artwork does not contain Orange & Black Day dates, location, registration information, or other event promotional copy.
• You have permission to submit and exhibit the artwork.
• You agree to the exhibition and reproduction permissions presented with the submission form.
• If the artist is under 18, a parent or legal guardian has approved the submission and permissions.
PCSC may contact an artist for a higher-resolution production file if an artwork is selected for printing or featured use.
