Who Are We Looking For?

The Community Impact Award celebrates artists and groups who are already using colored pencil to teach, connect, encourage, serve, or make a meaningful difference in their communities. Awarded twice a year, it recognizes the care and creativity you are already putting into the world.

Think about a person who returned to drawing because of your encouragement, the group that now has a place to belong, or the cause your work has helped. We want to hear about that impact and the people behind it. These examples are starting points; your community work may look different.

Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• Individual artists and small groups are welcome; corporations are not eligible.
• Applicants from anywhere in the world are welcome.
• You should have a genuine interest in and connection to colored pencil art.
• You do not need to be a professional or highly accomplished artist.
• Current employees and contractors in ongoing paid staff roles for annkullberg.com are not eligible.

Please note:

• Instructors and authors who work with annkullberg.com or COLOR Magazine are welcome to apply. However, all applicants must demonstrate a meaningful community impact outside of teaching or writing for annkullberg.com or COLOR Magazine.
• The judging panel will include at least two independent members from beyond our usual colored pencil network. Existing relationships receive no preference, and judges agree to recuse themselves if they have a close personal or professional relationship with an applicant.

What Will the Judges Consider?

Our judging panel will consider the following criteria when selecting the recipient(s):

How to apply

Applications will be open from Nov. 18, 2026 to Jan. 27, 2027. Here’s what we'll ask for, so you can start to prepare:

We'll ask about your colored pencil background, artist journey and why colored pencil matters to you. For groups, we'll ask that your application includes background information about a few key members.

Prepare approximately 3-5 best examples of your colored pencil artwork, plus a short video introducing yourself and your work (3 minutes or less). An artist résumé or CV is welcome, but not required.

Describe the community work you are already doing, who it benefits, and the difference it has made. Include examples or supporting materials that show the impact of your work.

Explore the other awards

Presented by annkullberg.com & The Jeff & Cynthia Knox Artist Foundation. © 2027 annkullberg.com

© 2027 annkullberg.com.