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2009 Entries: 1,456

Drawing: 411
Electronic Media: 152
Mixed Media: 249
Painting: 158
Photography: 336
Sculpture: 150

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The Prizes!

Grand Prize: $5,000
Second Place: $2,500
Third Place: $1,500
Fourth Place: $1,000
Fifth Place: $500
6th thru 10th: $250

About the Visual Arts Contest...

The annual Culture Shapers Visual Arts Contest enables student artists to compete for nearly $70,000 in cash prizes in six categories... drawing, painting, electronic media, mixed media, photography and sculpture. The contest takes place in the Fall, and is open to all High School Students in Harris, Waller, Liberty, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.

Students receive a commemorative t-shirt with their entry fee of $20. Entry forms will be e-mailed to the teacher after online registration, and parents, students or teachers deliver and pickup the entries at the drop-off location.

Each year, the Culture Shapers Volunteer Staff receive about 1,500 entries. Jurying will take place in November. The top ten finalists in each category will be invited to an elegant awards ceremony in December, where the winners will be finally announced before a live audience.

About the Culture Shapers Jurying Process...

Culture Shapers jurors are a combination of educators and professionals, who come highly recommended to us by other notable organizations, such as the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), as well as others. Many of our jurors have experience both in and out of the classroom, which gives them a unique and valuable perspective on evaluating student artwork. Click here to read more about the Culture Shapers jurying process.

2004 Film Winners


Grand Prize: $5,000
"Stuck"
Alan Lampert
Humble ISD
Kingwood HS
Teacher: Dorothy Rinne
SR


2nd Place: $2,500
"American Melting Pot"
Jesse Cranford
Klein ISD
Klein Oak HS
Teacher: Mickey Jones
SR


3rd Place: $1,500
"Library Chemistry"
Rosemary Espina
Humble ISD
Humble HS
Teacher: Roger Soden
SR


4th Place: $1,000
"Beatnik"
Dillon Menefee & Taylem Stanley
Cy-Fair ISD
Cy-Creek HS
Teacher: Lana Jo Mathis
JR


5th Place: $500
"My Hero"
Chelsea Hayden & Amanda Martin
Spring Branch ISD
Guthrie Center
Teacher: Patty Nilsson
JR


6th Place: $100
"Heat"
Alizsha Pennington
Spring Branch ISD
Guthrie Center
Teacher: Michael Radler
S


7th Place: $100
"Blind Label"
Lauren Walsh & Joyce Moon
Spring Branch ISD
Guthrie Center
Teacher: Patty Nilsson
SR


8th Place: $100
"Drink & Drive"
William Robin
Spring Branch ISD
Spring Woods HS
Teacher: n/a
SR


9th Place: $100
"Freedom for the Afraid"
John Lanser
Barbers Hill ISD
Barbers Hill HS
Teacher: Brooke Webb
JR


10th Place: $100
"Reality Check"
Roberto Contreras
Spring Branch ISD
Guthrie Center
Teacher: Patty Nilsson
JR



Honorable Mention (in alphabetic order)


"First Degree"
Bernard (B.K.) Garceau III
Spring ISD
Spring HS
Teacher: Russ Armstrong
SR


"Lost in a Sketch"
Thomas Karba
Spring Branch ISD
Guthrie Center
Teacher: Michael Radler
SR


"A Stumbling Dance in Gold"
Drew Lewis
Humble ISD
Humble HS
Teacher: Roger Soden
JR


"Insert Knob A in Hole B"
Matthew Henry Martin
Spring Branch ISD
Guthrie Center
Teacher: Michael Radler
SR


"A Place Called My Heart"
Eddie Melchor, Brian Johnston, & Brian Perlmutter
Spring Branch ISD
Guthrie Center
Teacher: Michael Radler
SR


"A Culture Artist"
Brian Mensik
Humble ISD
Kingwood HS
Teacher: Robert Bell
SR


"And Your Friend's Gone Away"
Jeremy Olivier
Spring Branch ISD
Guthrie Center
Teacher: Michael Radler
SR


"Imagination"
Will Porter
Spring Branch ISD
Memorial HS
Teacher: Cathy Bottoms
SR


"Midas"
Ed Whetstone
Humble ISD
Kingwood HS
Teacher: Emily Priesmeyer
JR


"The House"
Chandler Wild
Spring Branch ISD
Guthrie Center
Teacher: Patty Nilsson
JR



About the Jurors...

Cash Anthony - A long-time stage actor and director, Cash Anthony is a Houston writer, producer and director. She has authored eight murder mystery plays and written, produced, and directed three mystery short films. She is currently writing her second feature film, a psychological thriller.

Frank Eakin - Feature Filmmaker and owner of Papillon Productions, a media production firm. Also, founder/director of Woodlands Young Moviemakers, a film competition and learning experience in The Woodlands.

Mikon Haaksman - Owns Gibo Pictures, a boutique production company in Clear Lake. He has produced and directed two feature films as well as a number of short films. Most recently, he finished a short film featuring David Duchovny of "X-Files" fame.

Gerard Martin - Works in television and film as a videographer and assistant camera operator.

Brian Wood - Is in his 7th year as a teacher at Waller High School. He teaches Digital Videography and Technical Theater. His students have had success in various film contests with the most recent being an entry by students at the Spindletop Film Festival.

Carrie Wood - is a Theatre Director at Waller High School, as well as an instructor of Digital Videography. She has been a teacher for 14 years. She was recently chosen the 2004-2005 Waller ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year. She currently serves as a state board member for Texas Thespians.

Made Possible By...

...and generous donations from folks just like you, who are passionate about supporting high school student artists. We welcome your tax-deductible donation in any amount!

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