CH4rt Competition
You answered the call.
Now - over to the judges.
Submissions are closed and every entry is now with our judges.
Sign up below for news about the winners and exhibition. Part of the Time For CH₄nge campaign.
Making the Invisible Visible
Art can inspire and motivate climate action.
Methane is one of the most powerful, yet invisible, drivers of climate change. We're on a mission to change that.
If you've been meaning to start your submission, now's the time.
We've pulled together a few creative prompts on how to bring methane emissions from oil and gas to life. Use them as a starting point, or go in a completely different direction and make it your own - we're looking for ideas, perspectives and visual languages that make methane feel immediate and real.
If methane was a creature, it would look like…
What kind of character could represent something invisible, powerful and overlooked, and how might it change once it’s brought under control?
Orange pill with drifting yellow dropletsIf methane was visible, it would be the colour of…
Methane is colourless and odourless. What visual language could reveal its presence, and what would “no emission” look like?
Orange and pink stacked stripe shapeIf you could fix a methane leak, it would feel like…
What might a leak look like when exposed, and how could repair, sealing or prevention be shown in the same scene?
Green and cyan stepped formIf methane told a story, it would start with…
Reductions can have an impact within years. How would you show the full chain of action: finding, fixing and stopping emissions in real time?
Purple vertical pillarIf methane wore a disguise, it would dress up as…
What would it look like trying to blend into our environment, and what visual clues would help uncover what’s really there?
Violet diamond-patterned latticeIf we had a world without methane leaks, it would look like…
Pick a place, system or piece of infrastructure. How does it look when emissions are active, and how does it transform once they’re addressed?
Red four-point starCan't wait to see what you come up with!
Maybe this seems like a subject for scientists? Or people who know more than you?
Nope. We want creative types to bring their own vision to the subject. We only ask that you:
- Be bold, imaginative and ambitious
- Choose a medium that excites you, even if you haven't used it before. Now is the time for courage and optimism!
- Don't get bogged down in technical details or scientific precision. This is a creative challenge, not a technical exam
Your work can be literal, symbolic, abstract or experimental. For example: an expressionist collage revealing what methane molecules might look like, an impressionist painting of methane as an animal or texture, a poster demanding action you might see on a climate march, or a photograph of what methane might look like as a person. There are no limits to what you can imagine, but we are looking for artworks that respond to the issue of man-made methane from oil and gas production, so please avoid making cows and waste the subject of your piece.
Recorded live · 21 May 2026 · Watch on demand
Q&A with the Judges
The CH₄rt Competition jury sat down to talk about what they're looking for in submissions, how creativity can shape climate conversations, and why art has such an important role to play in climate action. Catch the full conversation below.
How to Enter
Start here
Artist Information Pack
The full brief, timeline, eligibility, judging criteria and submission spec in one download. Everything you need before you enter.
Upload a clear photograph or copy of your art piece as a JPEG, PNG, TIFF, or EPS file (max 20MB) by the closing date. Artworks can be drawn or painted with a range of materials including collage, photo montage, illustration, or designed on a computer.
By entering the competition, you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.
How Will It Be Judged?
We're looking for artistic quality, a strong response to the brief, originality and impact, and a positive message.
Our expert panel scores every entry against the four formal criteria below. Pre-shortlisted entries go to the full Jury, who convene to agree on the shortlist, finalists, overall winner, and runners-up. Winning and shortlisted artworks will be exhibited in Brussels, September 2026.
01
/04Artistic Quality
Technical execution, craft, and visual impact
02
/04Conceptual Strength
How effectively the work engages with the brief
03
/04Communicative Power
Ability to reach and resonate with a non-specialist audience
04
/04Originality
Freshness and distinctiveness of approach
Meet the Judges
Tips and inspiration from our judging panel.
Helen Spence-Jackson
Executive Director Europe
Environmental Defense Fund Europe
“The EU Methane Regulation gives Europe a strong foundation, but public awareness and understanding are essential to turning it into impact. CH₄rt uses art to help move methane further into public discourse, bringing fresh perspectives to a critical climate opportunity.”
Lena Schilling
Member of the European Parliament
“The EU Methane Regulation is now in its delivery phase, and public understanding will be critical to making it work. CH₄rt creates a space for young people to engage with that moment, to translate policy into something tangible, and to push all of us in the EU institutions to follow through.”
Ali-Maeve FitzGerald
Representative
European Youth Parliament
“Bringing art and creativity into this is the way forward to stop the cycle of climate change, to educate the masses, and to leave the generation of young people that will inherit the world after us a better place.”
Nadieh Bremer
Data Visualisation Artist
Visual Cinnamon
“My personal favourite avenue to explore when working on data art is thinking about metaphors, especially in colours, layout and shape… And if the data and medium allow, try to make it personal; make it relatable to the audience, make it about them, their connection to the data and the impact it might have on their lives. I'd love to see artworks where the creator has put a real effort into crafting the concept, the idea behind it all, not solely the execution. And finally, be bold!”
Bec Newman
Creative Director
TopMast
“The act of making something is itself a process of discovery, a way of deepening our understanding of the ideas we're exploring. So, as you approach your entry for the CH₄rt Competition, I suggest asking yourself first: what do I want to understand about methane's role in the climate crisis? Start from that place, and the work you create will likely help others find their own understanding too.”
Simon Clark
Science Communicator & YouTuber
“I know from years of experience as a science communicator that the facts are not enough on their own. To convince a viewer of the need for action on climate change, you need to tell them a story. Through your chosen medium you must reach out your hand and connect with them as a human being. In this competition I will be looking for pieces that do this. I'll be drawn to bold use of colour and form, but fundamentally I will be looking for pieces that make me feel the opportunity methane represents in climate mitigation.”
Watch the Trailer
Prizes
Winning and shortlisted artworks will be displayed in a CH₄rt exhibition in Brussels, September 2026.
€1,000
Overall Winner
Cash prize + exhibition + publication
€1,000
MEP Prize
Selected by MEP Lena Schilling
€500
Runners-Up (x2)
Cash prize each + exhibition + publication
Key Dates
22 April 2026
Entries Open
5 July 2026
Entries Close
July 2026
Finalists Notified
September 2026
Winners Announced + Exhibition & Awards
Inspiration
Explore how Time for CH₄nge is already making methane visible. Starting points, not templates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Make Your Mark?
Entries open 22 April 2026. Pick up your tools and join the CH₄rt community.