The theme for the Agar Art 2023 contest is “Microbiology in Space." Any interpretation you come up with will be accepted, as long as there is a connection between microbes and outer space: microbes on spaceships, life on other planets (or galaxies), panspermia, etc. See below for full contest details.

Traditional Category

Make sure you pay attention to the different submissions options within the "Traditional" category. The "Professional" choice is for those who have regular access to, and created their work in, a formal laboratory setting like a university or industrial lab. The "Creator" choice is for those who created their work in an informal setting, something like a community lab or maker space, or who are K-12 or undergraduate students who created their work as part of a classroom assignment.

1. Submissions should be high-quality photos (at least 8" x 10" at 300 ppi) of pieces of art that consist, at their core, of one or more microorganisms growing on agar.
2. You may use any organism(s), with any type(s) of agar, on any size or shape petri dish.
3. No digital or artificial enhancements or manipulations (e.g., false coloring through lighting or Photoshop) are permitted. Non-microbial props within the piece are also not allowed.
4. Pieces should be new and original, not seen/posted on the internet before or previously published or displayed elsewhere.
5. Pieces must be accompanied by a description that captures key features of the piece in language appropriate for a general audience. Note that the description is judged as well as the piece!
6. Pieces must be created safely in the appropriate Bio Safety Level environment for the organism(s) used. For more information, please consult ASM's Guidelines for Biosafety in Teaching Laboratories.

Open Category

For this option, we want you to emphasize the “Art” component of Agar Art. Using “Microbiology in Space” as your theme, we invite you to create a work of art (à la Picasso or Garfunkel) that tells a story. Paint a picture, sing a song, write a poem 10 pages long. However you feel like expressing yourself and your idea, as long as microbes are featured, we’ll accept your submission.

1. Submissions may use any form of media that can be transmitted electronically to illustrate the theme of “Microbiology in Space.”
2. Pieces should be new and original, not seen/posted on the internet before or previously published or displayed elsewhere.
3. Pieces must be accompanied by a description that captures key features of the piece in language appropriate for a general audience. Note that the description is judged as well as the piece!
4. Only the following file types will be accepted:

• Image files should be .jpg, .tif, .png or .gif, no larger than 10 MB. For print purposes, your file must measure at least 8 inches x 10 inches with 300 dpi or greater resolution (see this information on image properties).
• Word/text files should be .pdf no larger than 10 MB.
• Video files should be uploaded to a third-party website, such as YouTube or Vimeo. Make sure that the privacy settings allow viewers. Please paste the link in the appropriate field on the submission form.
• We cannot accept physical submissions.

Kids Category

Participants aged 12 and under are eligible to submit to this category. Submissions can be either "Traditional" (microbes on agar) or "Open" (any form of media). Submission rules apply as above.

Overall

1. Each submission may have up to 5 credited artists. If the submitter contributed to the creation of a piece, they must list themselves as a credited artist with up to 4 additional credited artists. If the submitter did not contribute to the creation of a piece (for example, they are submitting on behalf of a child or workshop participant) they should not list themselves as credited artists.  
2. Each credited artist may be listed on a maximum of 2 pieces (“Open” and “Traditional” combined). 
3. Submitters must be at least 18 years old. Minors must have an adult who is, or has permission from, the appropriate legal guardian submit on their behalf. ASM is not responsible for obtaining the permission of legal guardians or verifying that it has been obtained.
4. Submitters must choose the appropriate contest category based on the age of the credited artists and type of submission. Pieces determined by ASM staff to have been submitted to the wrong category may be disqualified without prior notice to the submitter or to credited artists.
5. Only entries submitted to the contest theme, "Microbiology in Space," will be eligible to win contest prizes.