Artwork Requirements
Artwork must portray positive ways Texans can conserve water and keep it clean. Artwork may portray conserving water and/or keeping water clean. All artwork must include the slogan “Take Care of Texas. It’s the only one we’ve got.” The slogan must be spelled correctly to qualify.
Artwork must be submitted on an 8.5” x 11” piece of paper (landscape format is recommended).
Artwork must be original work created by the contest participant and may not have been previously submitted, distributed, or have won any other award in any other competition.
Each student may submit only one design.
Each student’s parent or legal guardian must fill out and execute the Contest Entry Form and Agreement. The completed Contest Entry Form and Agreement must be attached to the back of the entry with tape or a clear glue stick. The student’s name must be written on the back of the artwork; nothing except the entry form may be attached to the back. Entries that do not have the Contest Entry Form and Agreement attached will not be considered.
Collages, computer-generated artwork, photography, or photocopies will not be accepted.
Artwork must be two-dimensional, using any of the following: watercolor, acrylic or oil paints, colored pencil, colored markers, ink, charcoal, pastels, and crayons.
Designs must not include company logos, product brands, or store names.
Artwork must not be framed or mounted.
Artwork must not be folded or damaged.
Students may choose to sign their artwork; however, the winner’s name will be printed next to his or her design if it wins, so signing is not necessary.
TCEQ owns all submitted artwork. Winners and their parents or guardians agree to the use of the winners’ names and likenesses to promote the Take Care of Texas program and future art contests. Entries will not be returned. See Contest Entry Form and Agreement for further details.
No obligation or liability is assumed by TCEQ in connection with the contest.
ELIGIBILITY
All Texas students in grades K–5th—whether from public, charter, or private schools or homeschooled—are eligible to participate. Applicants must be current residents of Texas, must be enrolled in grades K–5th as of February 2023, and must comply with these Official Rules.
Employees and their immediate families (spouses, parents, siblings, children, and each of the respective spouses or people living in the same household of each) of TCEQ or Texas Chemical Council are not eligible to participate.
EVALUATING ENTRIES
Entries will be judged based on creativity/uniqueness, inclusion of the “Take Care of Texas. It’s the only one we’ve got.” slogan and message, interpretation of theme, overall visual appeal, composition, and age appropriateness.
There will be three rounds of judging.
In the first round, Take Care of Texas staff will review and qualify all submitted entries selecting the top entries from each category. These selected entries will be sent to all TCEQ staff for the second round of judging.
In the second round, TCEQ staff will select their favorite entries from each category. The top two entries from each category will go on to the final round.
In the final round of judging, commissioners and executive staff from TCEQ and representatives from Texas Chemical Council will select the Grand Prize and Runner Up for each category.
All judgments are final.
PRIZES
Six winners will be selected, and Texas Chemical Council will provide the prizes.
One Grand Prize Winner and one Runner Up will be named for each category: K-1st grade, 2nd–3rd grade, and 4th–5th grade.
Prizes will be awarded as follows:
- Three Grand Prize Winners (one from each category) will be awarded a laptop.
- Three Runners Up (one from each category) will receive an iPad.
- The teacher who submits the most entries will also be awarded an iPad or a gift card of equal value.
Winners will be announced on April 5, 2023, and prizes will be distributed in May 2023.
TCEQ Commissioners and representatives from Texas Chemical Council will recognize the three Grand Prize Winners at the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards Banquet in May 2023.
All winning designs will be showcased on the Take Care of Texas website, on social media, and in media announcements.
ARTWORK SUBMISSION
Entries are accepted beginning January 4, 2023. Participating students must submit their artwork on or before Friday, February 24, 2023. Late entries will not be accepted. There are two options for submitting entries:
- Artwork (with Contest Entry Form and Agreement attached) can be sent through the U.S. mail (not e-mailed) postmarked on or before Friday, February 24, 2023 to:
Take Care of Texas Kids Art Contest, MC 118
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711–3087
OR
- Artwork (with Contest Entry Form and Agreement) can be scanned and uploaded using the Digital Entry Form. Entries using this method must be uploaded by 11:59pm on Friday, February 24, 2023.
Please do not submit entries through both methods. Either select mail or digital upload only.
If you have any questions, contact us at educate@tceq.texas.gov
