ArtNow 2025: Dreamscapes
New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) invites high school students across Santa Clara County to submit a work of art responding to the theme Dreamscapes. How can art reflect our dreams, and how do our dreams reflect our hopes, fears, values, environment, and aspirations?
Dreaming is a fascinating aspect of the human condition. From daydreams to our deepest ambitions, whether fantasies or nightmares, we are all connected by this shared phenomenon. Dreams don’t only happen when we sleep, they can take place on any scale, from personal goals to collective movements that inspire change.
Throughout history, scientists, storytellers, artists, and mystics have tried to understand why dreaming happens and what it means for humanity. Dreams can be fun or whimsical, but they can also be uncomfortable, grotesque, or downright confusing. In each case, they have the power to evoke strong emotions and inspire profound creative expression.
What do you dream of?
ArtNow 2025 submissions are open through Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Stay tuned for a Dreamscapes toolkit co-created with our Teen Council that will dive deeper into the theme, showcasing art historical references, artwork examples, submission resources, guiding questions, and quotes.
ArtNow 2025 marks the 14th year of the program and the third year that the exhibition theme was co-created with the ArtNow Teen Council. Through this meaningful partnership with student artists, teens are not just the beneficiaries of ArtNow, but its architects, making ArtNow a more accessible and relevant program to teenagers living across Santa Clara County.
Thank you to our contributing Teen Council members:
Clara Choi, Saratoga High School, Grade 10
Gabriel Dubiel, Kehillah Jewish High School, Grade 11
Anuhya Gottam, Valley Christian High School, Grade 12
Anoujin Munkhtur, Henry M. Gunn High School, Grade 12
Jazmyne Vidrio, James Lick High School, Grade 12
Selina Wang, Monta Vista High School, Grade 12
About ArtNow
ArtNow is an annual juried Santa Clara County high school art exhibition and educational program, presented by New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU). The ArtNow Exhibition and supporting programs offer opportunities for high school student artists, from Palo Alto to Gilroy, to gain real-world experience in participating in a juried museum exhibition. Each year, a new theme is chosen for the exhibition and students are asked to submit works based on that theme. $10,000+ in scholarships and awards are given to participating students. Students have the opportunity to win awards in 8 artistic categories as well as an overall Best in Show prize and a People’s Choice award. The categories are Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Printmaking, Sculpture, Photography, Digital Art & Video/Animation. Look for #artnowatnumu on social media.
This exhibition is in the Main Gallery.
Important Dates*
October 2024 Toolkit released
Friday, November 1, 2024 Submissions open
Sunday, February 2, 2025, 11:59 PM Submissions close
Friday, February 28, 2025 Exhibiting artists announced
Friday-Sunday, March 14-16 & 21-23, 2025, 10 AM-4 PM Artwork drop-off
Friday, April 4, 2025 Exhibition opens
Saturday, May 3, 2025 People’s Choice voting closes
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Awards Ceremony
Sunday, July 20, 2025 Exhibition closes
Thursday-Sunday, July 24-27 & July 31- August 3, 2025 Artwork pick-up
*Dates for ArtNow 2025 are still TBD and are subject to change. Sign up for our e-newsletters to receive updates.
