Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA), producer of the Bayou City Art Festival, will reveal the top 30 student finalists in its 13th Annual Middle School Art Competition during a reception on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Ecclesia Gallery, located at 1100 Elder Street, Houston, TX 77007.

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The Middle School Art Competition is an educational outreach program created by ACA for students in grades 5 through 8 attending Houston-area public, private, and charter schools. This 2-D juried competition gives young artists the chance to showcase their work publicly, engage with professional artists, and earn awards benefiting both the students and their school art programs.

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This year’s theme, “Through My Eyes,” encouraged students to express their personal viewpoints by portraying their families, neighborhoods, challenges, aspirations, and the everyday experiences that shape their individual stories.

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The reception is open to the public, including students, parents, educators, and school district representatives, and will feature artwork from more than 500 participating students. Guests will enjoy light refreshments, and Houston-based artist Summer Lydick will serve as the event’s featured speaker.

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Artwork from the top 30 finalists will be exhibited at the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown on March 28–29, 2026. Finalists’ pieces will also be featured in online voting for the “Nadia Community Choice Award,” open from February 10 through February 28, 2026, at www.bayoucityartfestival.com. Finalists will additionally receive festival tickets and a commemorative award ribbon.

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First-, second-, and third-place winners, along with the Nadia Community Choice Award recipient, will be announced during a special awards presentation at the Bayou City Art Festival on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 1 p.m.

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WHEN:
Middle School Art Competition Reception
Saturday, February 7, 2026
1–3 p.m.

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WHERE:
Ecclesia Gallery
1100 Elder St.
Houston, TX 77007

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For the most recent updates, follow the official event hashtags #HouArtFest and #BCAF, like the Facebook page, or follow on Instagram. 

 

About Bayou City Art Festival: 

Since the founding of the Westheimer Art Festival, now known as Bayou City Art Festival, the Art Colony Association, Inc. has raised close to $4 million for local nonprofit programs from the proceeds of its festivals. Bayou City Art Festival Downtown in the spring and Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park in the fall has provided a venue for more than 20,000 artists to showcase their work to thousands of art lovers from all over the world. The festivals are funded in part by grants from the City of Houston, corporate sponsorships, private contributions, in-kind support, and volunteer assistance. 

 

Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, please visit www.bayoucityartfestival.com.