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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.

2003 Painting Winners


Grand Prize: $5,000
"Self Portrait in Blue"
Rachel Cha
Memorial HS
Spring Branch ISD


2nd Place: $2,500
"Mrs. May, My Art Teacher"
Zhuo Geng
Memorial HS
Spring Branch ISD


3rd Place: $1,500
"Quilted Colors"
Megan Mead
Clear Creek HS
Clear Creek ISD


4th Place: $1,000
"Light of Heaven"
Tabitha Youngblood
Kingwood HS
Humble ISD


5th Place: $500
"untitled dog"
Jacqueline Jocson
Klein HS
Klein ISD


6th Place: $100
"Little Rascal"
Andrew Cherry
Hargrave HS
Huffman ISD


7th Place: $100
"Fruits Alive"
Tiffany Shih
Stratford HS
Spring Branch ISD


8th Place: $100
"Dabbling"
Lisa Hollywood
Stratford HS
Spring Branch ISD


9th Place: $100
"Hydrangea"
Jie Lian
Stratford HS
Spring Branch ISD


10th Place: $100
"Puzzling"
Erin Johnson
Tomball HS
Tomball ISD



Honorable Mention (in alphabetic order)


"Starry Self"
Megan Shafer
Klein Oak HS
Klein ISD


"Highlight"
Brittany Royal
Stratford HS
Spring Branch ISD


untitled portrait
Olga Finkelshteyn
Clements HS
Fort Bend ISD


"What the Sun Saw"
Rebecca Ramirez
Carver HS
Aldine ISD


"The Blues"
Lucy Hernandez
Cy-Springs HS
Cy-Fair ISD


"Interior with Blue Lamp"
Anna Andreen
Memorial HS
Spring Branch ISD


"Suspicious Glance"
Daniela Kattwinkel
Cinco Ranch HS


"Upward Glance"
Arma Espinosa
Cinco Ranch HS
Katy ISD


"Nightmare"
Taylor Freeman
Cinco Ranch HS
Katy ISD


"Red, Bathed in Light"
Eric Braden
Cinco Ranch HS
Katy ISD



About the Jurors...

SaraBeth Baca - A full time Painter working in oils and acrylics. I enjoy painting expressionistic images with spiritual and emotional significance. I received my Bachelor's Degree in Art from Houston Baptist University.

James Clark - Author, editor, consultant and designer of Art/Music Textbooks. Juror of numerous art competitions throughout Texas. Former President of Texas National Art Education Assn.

Joseph Culotta - Art Consultant for Sax Arts and Crafts. Teacher of Art - for over 25 years K - College. Painter and Artist. Published Articles "The Versatile World of Art".

Jeff Farmer - BA in Humanities from the University of Houston. I've been painting professionally for about 15 years and have my work in private collections across the U.S., Canada, England and New Zealand. My profession affiliations include, The Portrait Society of AM and The Oil Painters of AM.


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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