“Untitled” by Marceli O., 2nd Place, High School Original Artwork (2018)
About
The Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest shines a light on an often-overlooked topic and shows why mental health matters. To educate people about how common mental illnesses are and to encourage Texans to seek help when they need it, our yearly themes reflect the move toward treating mental illness with the same openness as other illnesses.
This contest is held by Texas System of Care, Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health at the University of Texas at Austin, and Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Contest Theme
What does mental health and well-being mean to you?
Entry Categories
Multiple entries are accepted!
Traditional Artwork
Combines original drawings or paintings to express the contest theme
Writing
Story, essay or poem no longer than 300 words based on the contest theme
Photography
Original photo that expresses the contest theme
Digital Artwork
Digital artwork can include anything from digital paintings and illustrations to graphic designs, 3D models, or digitally enhanced photographs to express the contest theme
Multimedia
Multimedia entries combine different media types, such as video, audio, animation, and sound to convey the contest theme
Who Can Enter
Our contest is open to Texas students and adults in four age groups
Elementary
Pre-K through grade 5
Middle School
Grades 6–8
High School
Grades 9–12
Adults
Ages 18 and up
Got artwork? Submit it now!
Prizes
Winners in each age group and category may receive special prizes and have their work recognized in public galleries, including the Texas State Capitol, starting the month of May. Winning submissions will also be published on contest holders’ official websites.
Judging
Judging is based on originality, creativity, and how well your entry expresses the contest theme. Entries containing plagiarized materials will be automatically disqualified. A team of judges will select the top submissions for each category and grade level. Entries, once submitted, become the property of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Texas System of Care, and may be used for the purpose of promoting awareness of mental health issues. Entries may be posted to the HHSC and Texas System of Care websites and used in promotional materials