Texas Sea Grant announces Texas Shores 2026 cover art contest

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas Sea Grant is calling on artists of all ages to help capture the spirit, science and stories of the Texas coast through the Texas Shores 2026 Cover Art Contest.

Texas Shores is the organization’s annual magazine highlighting the education, outreach and research supported across the state. The cover serves as the publication’s first impression and reflects the people, places and work that shape Texas’ coastal communities.

Past covers have featured milestone moments, including a 50th anniversary photo collage and a 2025 shrimp boat image that celebrated the state’s commercial fishing heritage. In addition to photography, Texas Sea Grant periodically hosts art contests to showcase the creativity of coastal residents and amplify the perspectives of the communities it serves.

Selected artwork will be distributed to more than 6,000 subscribers and shared widely at Texas Sea Grant events. Copies of Texas Shores are displayed on desks, information counters and in public spaces along the coast, offering featured artists meaningful visibility among educators, researchers, coastal professionals, community leaders and residents who care deeply about Texas’ land, water and people.

Laura Picariello, director of Texas Sea Grant, said the contest is about more than selecting a cover image.

“Texas Shores tells the story of how science, education and community partnerships strengthen our coast,” Picariello said. “Inviting artists of all ages to interpret that work brings new perspectives to the table and reflects the creativity and resilience of the Texans we serve. The cover is our first impression, and we want it to represent both the beauty of our coast and the impact happening across our communities.”

Four focus areas inspire submissions

Artists are asked to create original work inspired by one of Texas Sea Grant’s four focus areas, as a visualization of a coastal or marine-related science concept:

Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture — Supporting thriving fisheries and responsible aquaculture through research, innovation and collaboration with producers and coastal communities. Example imagery may include fish, oysters, shrimp, aquaculture farms and fishing boats.

Healthy Coastal Ecosystems — Advancing science and community partnerships that protect, restore and enhance the resilience of Texas’ coastal habitats and wildlife. Imagery might feature wetlands, dunes, oyster reefs and coastal birds.

Resilient Communities and Economies — Developing innovative policies, management strategies and community-based solutions that strengthen resilience and preparedness in the face of coastal hazards. Artwork could depict waterfront towns, working boats or community gatherings.

Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development — Investing in education, training and hands-on opportunities that empower Texans of all ages to become informed coastal stewards and future leaders. Inspiration may come from classroom activities, citizen science or career pathways connected to the coast.

Chris Hale, extension director for Texas Sea Grant, said the contest highlights the connection between science and everyday coastal life.

“Our work spans working waterfronts, wetlands, classrooms and coastal neighborhoods,” Hale said. “This contest gives artists the opportunity to translate complex coastal science and community resilience into something visual and accessible. We’re excited to see how Texans interpret the future of our coast through their own creative lens.”

Each submission must include a 250-word summary explaining how the artwork connects to the selected focus area and what inspired the piece.

Eligibility and submission requirements

The contest is open to Texas residents of all ages, including middle and high school students, college students and community members. Only one submission per person is allowed.

All visual art mediums are welcome, including oil or acrylic painting, watercolor, illustration, digital art, photography, mixed media, fish printing (gyotaku), textile or fiber art, collage, and traditional or Native art forms. Artwork must be original and must not infringe on any copyrights.

Submissions must be vertical (portrait orientation) and sized for an 8.5-by-11-inch magazine cover. Files should be submitted as high-resolution PNG or PDF formats at a minimum of 300 dpi. Artists must include their name, age, contact information and the required summary.

Awards and recognition

Awards will be given across age groups and artistic approaches. One submission will be selected as the Texas Shores 2026 cover artist and will receive a featured artist spotlight in the magazine.

Additional awards include:

• Best Visualization of a Coastal or Marine-Related Science Concept
• Best in Show — Youth Artist (12 and under)
• Best in Show — Teen Artist (ages 13–18)
• Best in Show — Adult Artist
• Best Photography Submission
• Best Illustrative/Fine Art Submission
• Best Digital Art Submission

Honorable mentions will be highlighted in a dedicated gallery section.

Category winners will receive featured excerpts or half-page features with artwork and artist descriptions in the magazine.

Artistic integrity policy

To maintain the integrity of the contest, submissions must be the original work of the artist and may not be generated by artificial intelligence. Limited digital editing or enhancement of original artwork or photography — such as color correction, cropping or minor retouching — is permitted. However, AI-generated imagery or substantial AI-assisted creation is not eligible.

All submitters must be able to confirm authorship of their work. Texas Sea Grant reserves the right to request additional information about the creation process if needed.

Submission details, deadlines and entry instructions are available at texasseagrant.org/texas-shores-art/.