From BenCab to Ronald Ventura: Shell competition seeks next generation of art talents

This year’s contest has the theme “Sulyap.”

Young Filipino artists are once again being given a national platform to showcase their talent as the 59th Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC) officially opens its call for entries under the theme “Sulyap.”

Organized by Shell Pilipinas Corporation, the competition is considered the longest-running student art competition in the Philippines, having helped launch the careers of some of the country’s most celebrated artists.

This year’s theme, “Sulyap,” encourages young artists to slow down, observe, and find meaning in moments that often go unnoticed. It asks participants to turn a glance, a memory, or a personal truth into visual expression.

The Shell NSAC also marks a historic milestone this year. Founded in 1951, the competition is now 75 years old. However, because it took a multi-year hiatus during the Martial Law period in the 1970s, it is currently holding its 59th staging rather than its 75th event.

Participants may submit entries in five categories: Oil/Acrylic, Watercolor, Sculpture, Digital Fine Arts, and Photography. Each artist may submit up to two entries.

The competition is open to eligible college students and recent graduates. Submission of entries runs from June 5 until October 5, 2026. Winners will be announced on December 2, 2026.

Cash prizes await the winners, with first-place finishers in each category receiving ₱60,000, second-place winners getting ₱40,000, and third-place winners taking home ₱30,000.

Through the decades, Shell NSAC has produced an impressive roster of alumni who later became major names in Philippine art. Among them are National Artists Jose Joya, Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, Ang Kiukok, and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.

Other prominent past winners and participants include Ronald Ventura, Leeroy New, Rosario Bitanga-Peralta, Rodel Tapaya, and Maria Taniguchi.

Now in its 59th year, Shell NSAC continues to serve as a launchpad for young creatives, offering students not just a contest, but a possible first step toward a lifelong artistic career.