Our Mission
Popsicle’s goal is to champion imaginative play – loosely structured, creative, and pretend play. These activities are essential to a child’s learning, development, and emotional wellbeing, and we believe that art has a critical role in developing kid’s creativity. All kids should have access to art!
US Arts Education Gap
Although some schools can support an on-going commitment to arts education, the growing arts education gap doesn’t impact all kids the same. Since the mid-1980’s, children from low-income families have experienced a 77% reduction in arts education.*
(Source: *American Academy of Arts & Sciences.org)

What is the Stick with
Art! Contest?
For the second year in a row, Popsicle is working to bridge the arts education gap through the Stick with Art! Contest as part of our three-year, $500,000 commitment. In partnership with the National Art Education Association (NAEA), we’re prioritizing imaginative play and learning within school classrooms by providing funding for art programs across the nation.

Contest Details
This year, we’re now including all visual arts educators for students ages 6-18 and the parents of these students. To enter: Post your kids’ and students’ Popsicle stick art creations on Instagram using #StickWithArtContest and tag @popsicle – contest closes on December 10, 2023. Submissions provide eligibility for the chance to win arts funding for teachers or school initiatives that build equity in arts education.
40 random submissions will be selected to win $1,000 to cover the cost of art supplies, and this year parents can submit on behalf of their child’s art teacher. The 40 randomly selected winners will be invited to apply for larger $10-20K grants to support school-wide initiatives that help close the arts gap by advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in their arts education programming! All winners will be selected by a panel of NAEA representatives and announced in 2024.
Congratulations to Last Year's Winners!
Thank you to all who participated in our 2022 Stick with Art! Contest. Make sure you follow @popsicle to stay up to date on how Popsicle is working to close the arts education gap for kids everywhere. We’re excited to see the 2023 submissions!

About National Art
Education Association
We’re thrilled to partner with the National Art Education Association for Popsicle’s Stick with Art! Contest. NAEA is the leading professional organization serving art educators in schools, universities, museums, & community settings. Founded in 1947, NAEA champions creative growth and innovation by equitably advancing the tools & resources for high-quality visual arts, design, and media arts education throughout diverse populations & communities of practice. NAEA will also help Popsicle select the grand prize winners.
LEARN MORE ABOUT POPSICLE
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. The Stick With Art! Contest is sponsored by Conopco, Inc., d/b/a Unilever. Teachers must be legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+, who are art teachers of a child between the ages of 6 and 18 years of age and have made or are currently planning to make Popsicle stick creations in their class. Parents must be legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+, who are art parents/guardians of a child between the ages of 6 and 18 years of age that have made or are currently planning to make Popsicle stick creations in their art class at a federally recognized public/private/charter school. Parents who homeschool are not eligible. Begins at 12:00 a.m. ET on November 1, 2023 & ends 11:59 p.m. ET on December 10, 2023. For official rules, eligibility, odds, limits, prize descriptions, and complete details visit unileversweepsrules.com/popsiclepurpose.