One of the most exciting recent developments in the creative industries has been the rise of the YouTube Star – emerging artists who are creating their own content, determining how and when it is distributed to their audience, and being compensated for their creative work.

That makes YouTube stars great messengers to encourage youth to use their creative talents, get them thinking about the relationship between creative ownership and their own careers, and communicate that a career in the creative industries is a viable option.

CreativeFuture has partnered with Maker Studios to invite aspiring creatives of all kinds to submit short creative videos (45-75 seconds) for the chance to win a trip to VidCon and other prizes.

Top YouTube stars are helping us launch the Contribute to Creativity VidCon Video Contest with their own unique videos calling for entries. The Fung Bros, Michael Gallagher, Sam Macaroni, Steve-O, and Taryn Southern are each inviting their fans to make short videos of their own.

“Through this contest, we are encouraging the next generation of creatives to believe and follow their dreams – and to think about the relationship between creative ownership and their own careers,” said CreativeFuture Chief Executive Officer Ruth Vitale. “It takes courage to pursue a career in a creative field, and this contest will allow us to put the spotlight on new artists. A career in the creative industries is as important to our society as being a scientist, lawyer, or an architect.”

The contest is running from June 8 to June 23. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a $1000 cash prize and an all-expense paid trip with a guest to attend VidCon 2015 in Anaheim, California, in July. The First Prize Winner will receive a one-year subscription to Adobe Complete Creative Cloud, a $600 value. The Second Prize Winner gets a GoPro camera and memory stick, a $250 value.

The winners will be selected by a panel of creative industry veterans and rising stars that includes Tobin Armbrust (Begin Again, Rush, The Way Back); Alec Berg (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Silicon Valley); Marty Bowen (Twilight Saga, The Fault in Our Stars, Maze Runner); Arturo Castro (Broad City); Wyck Godfrey (Twilight Saga, The Fault in Our Stars, Maze Runner); Kasi Lemmons (Silence of the Lambs, Candyman, Eve’s Bayou); Franklin Leonard (The Black List); Rena Ronson (United Talent Agency); Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy, Bastard Executioner); Ryan Turek (Blumhouse Productions); and Ruth Vitale (CreativeFuture).

You can upload your video and join the contest here: http://www.contributetocreativitycontest.com/