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The 2025 Climate Hope Art Contest, organized by the United Church of Christ (UCC), concluded with an award ceremony held on April 5. The event was conducted virtually via Zoom, with Susan Mueller, the UCC’s Climate Hope campaign organizer, initiating the celebration. Mueller stated, “Caring for creation is not just a political issue, but a spiritual one.” She further commented, “Together we are living out a theology of hope, resilience, and justice.”
The contest saw participation from 541 young artists, with entries submitted by 140 churches across 33 U.S. states. Wisconsin had the highest number of participants, while Pennsylvania led in the number of zip codes represented. The contest was divided into categories based on age: under 6, 7-9 years, 10-13 years, 14-18 years, and an overall winner was selected.
Artists were judged on their ability to articulate the Climate Hope theme, “Planting Seeds of Hope,” along with their artistic skill and adaptability of the art to fit on a postcard. The overall contest winner will engage with congressional offices in Washington, D.C., to advocate for climate issues and receive $1,000 for their church from the UCC Insurance Board. Their artwork will also become the logo for the UCC’s Climate Hope advocacy efforts throughout the year.
In individual categories, Sara, age 5, from Payson Park Church in Belmont, Massachusetts won the under 6 age group. Jolina, age 8, from Coral Gables UCC in Florida took the 7-9 age group. Eloise, age 13, from the First Congregational Church of Madison, Wisconsin claimed victory in the 10-13 age group. Molly, age 16, from Hillsboro, Oregon UCC was the winner among the 14-18 age group. The overall contest winner was Natalie, age 11, from Bethlehem UCC in Evansville, Indiana. Her work will represent Climate Hope in 2025.
Expressing her satisfaction with the event, Mueller stated, “For the third year in a row, our Climate Hope Art Contest has inspired young artists across the country to plant seeds of hope through their creativity. We’re also thrilled to launch our Climate Hope Affiliates program, empowering local communities to build lasting relationships with elected officials and advocate for vital federal climate legislation.”
The full awards ceremony is available on the UCC YouTube channel. The UCC invites interest in starting a Climate Hope Affiliate in local areas through their program link.
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