Texas State-Fish Art Contest Begins

Student artists across Texas in grades K through 12 take notice: It’s time to start preparing your entries for the 2013 Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest. The contest is open to all students in public, private or home schools. Entry deadline is March 31 each year. Contest rules, guidelines, entry information and details about the contest can be found at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishart Major support for the Texas division of the contest is provided by the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, which makes it possible for the top three Texas entries in each grade level to win cash prizes. Additional support for the contest is provided by the William E. Armentrout Foundation, Friends of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center and Fish Flops®. The Texas first-place winner in grades 10—12 wins $1,000; second place $750; third place $500. Prizes in the 4—6 and 7—9 grade levels are $100 for first; $75 for second; $50 for third. Funding from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic also provides a travel allowance for first-place Texas winners and their families to attend the national State-Fish Art Expo, which will be held July 12, 2013, at the Go Fish Education Center in Perry, Georgia. Texas winners will compete with winners from other states for national awards at the Expo.

One outstanding piece of artwork each year is selected for the Art of Conservation Award, and a commemorative stamp featuring the artwork is produced for sale. Proceeds from sales of the stamp are used to fund conservation projects. Educators who wish to have their students enter the contest can download the free “State-Fish Art Contest Lesson Plan” at www.statefishart.com. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes lessons and activities, a species identification section profiling each state fish, a glossary and student worksheets. Located in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Wildlife Forever is a non-profit multi-species conservation organization dedicated to conserving America’s wildlife heritage. Working at the grassroots level, Wildlife Forever has funded conservation projects in all 50 states, committing millions of dollars to “on-the-ground” efforts. Wildlife Forever supports habitat restoration and enhancement, land acquisition, research and management of fish and wildlife populations.