St Cross Christmas Card Competition 2026

christmas card2025 mockup

Last year's Christmas Card design was a photo by former Junior Dean Saba Ishrat

Calling all photographers and artists! We're inviting the St Cross community to get creative and help us design this year's official College Christmas card. 

Each year, St Cross sends Christmas cards on behalf of the Master to friends and supporters of the College, including alumni, volunteers, donors and members of the wider Oxford community. Packs of our Christmas cards are also available for members of the College community to purchase and share with their own friends and families.  

This year, we'd love to feature a design created by someone from our very own St Cross community!  

Whether you're a keen photographer, an enthusiastic painter or simply enjoy getting creative, we're inviting you to submit an original design inspired by the theme 'St Cross at Christmas'. Your entry could capture the College in a festive or wintry setting, celebrate a favourite corner of St Cross, or offer your own creative interpretation of the College at Christmas. We're looking for something that reflects the character and spirit of St Cross, so let your imagination run free!  

The winning design will be selected by the Master and Development Director, with support from the Communications Officer, and will feature on the official St Cross Christmas Card for 2026. The winning entrant will also receive a complimentary pack of cards featuring their design and recognition in the College's communications.

All entries must be send to communications@stx.ox.ac.uk by midnight on Sunday 22 November. Please see below for full details on how to enter, design specifications and competition terms and conditions. 

We can't wait to see St Cross through your eyes. Good luck, and happy creating!

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Who can enter? Current St Cross students, Fellows, staff, Members of Common Room and alumni. 

What can I submit? An original photograph, drawing or painting inspired by 'St Cross at Christmas'. 

How many entries? Up to two entries per person. 

What format? A high-resolution digital image suitable for professional printing. Please see the specifications below. 

Where do I send it? Email your entry to communications@stx.ox.ac.uk, with the subject line 'Christmas Card Competition 2026'. Please include your full name and your connection to St Cross. 

When is the deadline? Sunday 22 November 2026, at 23:59 GMT. 

To ensure the winning design can be reproduced to a high standard, please follow these guidelines: 

  • Entries must be original photographs, drawings or paintings created by the entrant. 
  • Designs may be portrait or landscape, but must be suitable for adaptation to a printed Christmas card (UK C5). 
  • Digital submissions should be provided as high-resolution JPEG, PNG or TIFF files, ideally at least 2,000 × 2,800 pixels, or equivalent for landscape images. 
  • Physical artwork should be photographed or scanned at high resolution before submission. 
  • Please avoid including text or greetings within your design, as these will be added separately if required. 

  • The competition is open to current St Cross College students, Fellows, Members of Common Room, staff and alumni. 
  • Each entrant may submit a maximum of two designs. 
  • All submissions must be the entrant's own original work, and entrants must hold the necessary rights to their submitted artwork or photography. 
  • Entries must not infringe the copyright, privacy or other rights of any third party. Where identifiable individuals feature in an entry, the entrant must have their permission for the image to be submitted and used. 
  • The closing date for entries is Sunday 22 November 2026, at 23:59 GMT. Entries received after this deadline may not be considered. 
  • Entries will be assessed on their connection to St Cross College, creativity, visual impact and suitability for use as a Christmas card. 
  • The winning design will be selected by the Master and Development Director, supported by the Communications Officer. The judging panel's decision will be final. 
  • The winning entrant retains copyright of their original work but grants St Cross College, University of Oxford, a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to reproduce, print, distribute, sell and promote the design in connection with the College's Christmas cards and associated communications. 
  • The College reserves the right to make reasonable adjustments to the winning design, including cropping, resizing and the addition of text, to meet printing and design requirements. 
  • The winner will be contacted by email and their name may be published in College communications, with their agreement. 
  • The College reserves the right not to select a winning entry if no submission is considered suitable for reproduction.