Spring Installation

Moo-vement for Improvement: A Showcase of California Native Plants and Sustainability at UC Davis 

APPLY HERE BY 2/9

OVERVIEW 

The Moo-vin’ Moo-seum is celebrating sustainability and California native plants this spring! We’re looking for 13 talented undergraduate artists to each design a 11” x 30” panel representing a California native plant. These panels will be displayed in our spring installation and selected artists will receive a $50 gift card for their work.

Students can apply here by submitting a compilation of samples of their previous work demonstrating their artistic abilities and their top three California native plants from this list. 

CONTEST TIMELINE

• Entry Period: January 26th (01/26/2026) 11:00am through February 9th (02/09/2026) 11:59pm.
• Winners Selected and Contacted: Winners will be selected and contacted via email on Monday, February 9th (02/09/2026).
• The winner's pieces will be due by March 13th (2/13/2026).

HOW TO ENTER

To enter, participants must submit their name, email address, a sample of previous artwork, and their top three California native plant choices using this google form. Each participant can only submit one response, however that response can include multiple concepts.

CREATIVE DIRECTIVES

Theme/Prompt: The Moo-vin’ Moo-seum is celebrating sustainability and California native plants this spring! Each selected artist will design a panel based on a California native plant. 

Dimensions & Specifications: Each panel is 11” x 30” panel and selected artists may choose to design them digitally or physically. Digital files should be submitted as a PDF, with crop marks and .25" bleed.

ELIGIBILITY

This contest is open to all registered UC Davis and UC Davis undergraduate students. You must be age 18 or older with a valid UC Davis email. Eligibility rules are subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. All entries submitted become property of UC Davis. 

By participating in this contest, you grant UC Davis permission to use all of your submitted content for design, marketing, advertising, and communication purposes. Odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Inquiries about contest odds, entrants, winners and other related matters may be directed to the Aggie Arts Committee at [email protected]. 

JUDGING CRITERIA

The judge panel includes members of the ASUCD Aggie Arts Committee. Contest winners will be selected based on:

• Quality of artist's previous work.
• Adherence to the UC Davis Principles of Community

Art Guidelines:

• Artists must be UC Davis undergraduate students.
• Use of generative AI is prohibited.
• Pictures speak a thousand words, try to focus on drawings.
• Please include both the common name and scientific name on the design.
• Get creative!

Winners will be notified via email on February 12th (02/12/2026). Winners will have until March 13th (03/13/2026) to respond to the notification and accept the prize. In the event that a winner does not respond by this date, the contest administrator will select a new winner. 

PRIZES

Contest winner(s) will receive a 50$ gift card for their work and have their work exhibited throughout Spring Quarter 2026 as part of the Moo-vin’ Moo-seum Spring Quarter 2026 Installation.

INQUIRIES/QUESTIONS

Any inquiries or questions regarding this contest may be sent by email to [email protected].

ADDITIONAL TERMS

By entering, participants agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the contest administrator which shall be final. All federal, state, and local laws apply.

The University of California (“UC”) and its employees, directors, agents, and contractors (“UC Parties”) are not responsible for and shall not be liable for: 1) late, lost, delayed, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, or unintelligible entries; 2) telephone, electronic, hardware, software program, network, Internet, or computer malfunctions, failures, or difficulties; 3) errors in transmission; 4) any condition caused by events beyond the control of the UC that may cause the contest to be disrupted or corrupted; 5) any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind caused by a prize or resulting from acceptance, possession, or use of a prize, or from participation in the contest; or 6) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the contest.

The UC may cancel this contest in the event of technical problems or electronic attacks affecting the administration of the contest. The UC reserves the right to disqualify any participant or winner who is found to have tampered with the entry process, intentionally interfered with the operation of the contest, submitted unoriginal designs, or otherwise violated the contest rules.

All entries submitted become the property of UC Davis. By entering the contest, participant grants, assigns, and conveys to the UC all right, title, and interest that participants may have in their design. By entering the contest, participant 1) irrevocably releases and waives any claims participant may have against UC and the UC Parties – and indemnifies and holds harmless UC Parties regarding any claim – arising out of the participation of the contest and use of participant design; and 2) as between UC and participant, UC owns all copyright ownership rights subsisting in participant’s design.

Except where prohibited by law, entry constitutes permission to use the winner(s)’ name(s) and likeness for marketing, advertising, publicity and communications purposes without additional compensation.

Entries will not be retained, sold or used in any way other than specifically set for in these rules.

All prizes and awards are subject to Federal and California income tax reporting. Recipients of awards valued at $600 or larger will be required to submit a completed W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number.

For UC Davis student employees, recipients of awards valued at $75 or larger will be required to submit a completed W-9. Please note that the $75 threshold is cumulative for the calendar year and any other prizes won or awarded from any other contest, sweepstakes or promotion from UC Davis would be included in that total.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT IS NECESSARY TO ENTER. INTERNET ACCESS AND A UC DAVIS EMAIL ACCOUNT ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER.