2026 Art Contest Entry

Art Contest Rules and Guidelines

Artwork Specifications:  

• Artwork should focus on the “I Am Texas” theme. See Guidelines below for suggestions. If the theme of “I Am Texas” is not immediately obvious, please explain the connection to Texas in your artist statement.   
• This contest only accepts two-dimensional artwork including drawings, paintings, hand-drawn or hand-painted on paper or canvas for all age categories.   
• For high school submissions, we do accept artwork created on a computer or tablet with art making software such as Illustrator, Procreate, or a similar program.   
• This contest does not accept photography, photo editing or photo manipulation. We do not accept digital collage or digitally altered images.  
• Size requirements: For elementary art: minimum 8”x10” – maximum 11”x14”. For middle school and high school art: minimum 11”x14” – maximum 18”x24”.   
• Artwork may be submitted in either a portrait or landscape orientation.   
• Colorful or black and white artwork is acceptable.   
• Artwork that includes words or logos within the image will not be eligible for top awards.   
• Student art submissions should evoke at least one of the following: nostalgia, connection, Texas pride, nature, joy, and adventure.    

Artwork Submission:  

• All submissions are to be made electronically though the Submittable platform that includes a place to upload a high-quality image of your artwork. You can reach Submittable through the www.iamtx.org  webpage. 

• Pictures of artwork uploaded to the submission form must be at least 300 dpi. 

• Make sure you take the picture in a well-lit area. Double check to be sure the photo is not blurry before uploading it. 

• BEFORE SUBITTING: Be prepared to enter the title, size, and medium of the artwork. You are also required to create an artist statement and include a parent or guardian’s email.  

• CONTACT INFORMATION: Please provide accurate contact information in Submittable. If a student’s artwork is considered for a monetary award, they will be notified by the submitted contact emails and phone number. If you submit an e-mail that is not checked often and we cannot reach the parents, the student may lose the opportunity to receive the award.  

• Teachers and parents for grades 2-5 ONLY may submit online OR
  through the mail using this form:
  

(The Bryan Museum is not responsible for submissions that never arrive or that arrive late. Please choose a trusted carrier.) 

• The artist’s statement should explain the artwork’s connection to Texas and the thought process behind the creation of the artwork.  

• Submissions must be made by April 30, 2026.  

Important Notes:  

• KEEP YOUR ORIGINAL ARTWORK. Artists who make it to the final round of judging will be asked to mail their artwork to The Bryan Museum. In addition, top scoring high school artists may be invited to participate in an art auction through The Bryan Museum. (Art auction invitations will go out to select high school students in late summer 2026)  

• Messy artwork that looks rushed and careless and/or art with large portions of blank white space (not used intentionally), will not be considered for awards.  

• Artwork that contains offensive material will be disqualified.  

• Any entries not created solely by the student will be disqualified.  

• All images of artwork submitted become the property of The Bryan Museum to be used in marketing and/or advertising for the contest or for other purposes.  

• The Bryan Museum does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, or religions in its programs and contests.  

Timeline   

• Submissions are accepted from October 10, 2025 to April 30, 2026.  

• Semi-finalists will be notified via e-mail in May of 2026.  

• The first round of judging will be done entirely through viewing the electronic submissions. If your artwork is considered for finalist recognition and is therefore may be in competition for a monetary award, you will be asked to send in your original artwork to The Bryan Museum (May – late summer 2026). If you are not able to do so in the allotted time, your art will become ineligible to receive one of the top prizes.  

• All finalists will be invited to have their artwork on display at The Bryan Museum from mid-September through late November.  

• At the awards reception in November the original artwork will be returned. If your artwork makes it to the finalist stage, and you do not want it displayed, it will be returned to you before the final round of judging.  

• Top awards will be announced in September of 2026.
  
  

Guidelines – For All Age Groups

• Artist Statement  
  • Every submission will be accompanied by an artist statement. The statement should explain why the student chose to create their artwork and how the artwork connects to the “I Am Texas” theme. Judges like to see the personal connection between the student and the subject of their artwork.  
• Grades 2 – 5: Elementary Art Contest  
  • Size Requirements: Minimum 8”x10” – maximum 11”x14”  
  • 2D artwork only, no sculpture or photography accepted  
  • What are the Judges looking for?  
    • Colorful artwork  
    • Artwork that fills the page and does not have a lot of empty white space.  
• What does “I Am Texas” mean?  
  • For elementary students our judges are looking for the student’s creativity. Here are some ideas to get you started.  
    • What is something that you love about Texas? (Could be food, music, animals, being outdoors, playing with friends, or Texas symbols) 
    • What does it look like out your bedroom window?  
    • A place in Texas that you visited recently.  
    • A moment in Texas history or something inspired by Texas history.  
    • A family member or an item related to your upbringing in Texas.  
• Grades 6-8: Middle School Contest  
  • What are the judges looking for?  
    • Size Requirements: minimum 11”x14” – maximum 18”x24”. 
    • Middle schoolers we are holding you to a higher standard than the elementary school students! Plan on sketching out your artwork with pencil before adding color.  
    • Please create detailed artwork that clearly shows that the artist is trying to communicate.  
    • Competition is stiff with middle school entries. Please use reference photos and observe your subject closely before creating artwork. For example, if you are going to draw Texas symbols such bluebonnets or mockingbirds, look up pictures and practice drawing with different colors and perspectives before choosing your final artwork composition.  
    • Be creative! With many cows, horses, and blue bonnet submissions – if you are choosing a common subject such as these make it stand out with interesting medium, perspective, colors, and patterns.  
    • The judges love to see a fresh take on “I Am Texas”. Think outside the box. If you would like to create artwork that isn’t immediately recognizable as relating to Texas – that might be what makes your artwork stand out to the judges! Just be prepared to make a compelling argument about its connection to Texas or Texas history through your writer’s statement.  
• Where do I begin?  
  • Theme ideas: Texas landscapes, your city, Texas symbols, food that you love in Texas, animals and pets, friends and family, Texas map, agriculture, ranching, and relating to Texas history or a historical artifact. 
• Grades 9-12: Highschool Art Contest  
• What are the judges looking for?  
  • Size Requirements: minimum 11”x14” – maximum 18”x24”. 
  • The judges are especially excited to receive artwork that offers a fresh take on the “I Am Texas” theme. If you want your artwork to stand out to the judges, choose an uncommon subject.  
  • In the past two years the contest submissions have included many farm animals and Texas symbols. We welcome these subjects, but due to the sheer volume, if you are creating artwork that features farm animals and Texas symbols, it must be exceptional to win an award. Take special care when it comes to craftsmanship, perspective, medium, and color usage.  
  • If you use a reference photo and draw it in exacting detail, the photo needs to be one that either the artist took, or a photo taken by someone who the artist knows and who gave them permission to use it. 
  • For the high school art awards, we accept digital and non-digital art. They are judged in the same category and eligible for the same awards. For this contest “digital art” refers to original artwork created using a computer or tablet with art making software such as illustrator, procreate, or a similar program.  
  • We do not accept photography, photo editing or photo manipulation. We do not accept digital collage or digitally altered images.  
  • While this contest accepts artworks that are based on photographs, we strongly encourage original ideas and creative composition.  
  • Need some help brainstorming? Here are a few jumping off points:  
    • Hidden or forgotten Texas  
    • Personal places, experiences or memories about Texas 
    • Your favorite Texas plants and animals  
    • We challenge you to think about what native plants and animals are important to our local ecosystems here in Texas. (Armadillo, piney woods, estuaries, west Texas desert, fish, deer, reptiles, grasslands, and wildflowers)  
    • Cityscapes, your home, architecture specific to your city or town  
    • Bryan Museum collection items – search our catalog by key word at 
        

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