ELIGIBILITY
All student artist age 18 and over who are currently enrolled at a university, college, community college or technical school in the state of Texas are eligible. Entering artists must be prepared to show proof of enrollment with a current student ID. All media are accepted for entry.

ENTRIES
The deadline for submissions is January 24th, 2027 (11:59pm CST).
Submissions will be accepted online only. Notification of acceptance will be sent by Monday, February 9th.

PRIZE INFORMATION
Three winners are awarded cash prizes.
$500 for First prize
$300 for Second prize
$200 for Third prize

The 2027 Juror - Angalee DeForest - 2019 Master Artist, Former RCA Board Member, Gallery Artist at WindWay Gallery, and professional artist.

A professional artist for over forty years, Angalee DeForest studied fine art at the University of Texas in Austin, and independently with nationally known artists throughout the United States. An ardent student, she believes artists never stop learning or striving to reach new goals.

She has taught classes in watercolor, pastel, and oil painting, as well as portrait and figurative sculpture. She is a signature member of the Connecticut Pastel Society, and an associate member of Oil Painters of America, Portrait Society of America, Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists, Degas Pastel Society, American Women Artists, American Impressionists Society, and the Outdoor Painters Society.

She served six years on the Board of Directors of the Rockport Center for the Arts and was the 2019 Poster Artist for the Art Center’s 50 Anniversary.

ENTRY FEES
1-3 artwork submissions allowed per student. $5 entry fee regardless of number of submissions. Entry fees are non­refundable and must be received by the entry deadline.

MEDIA / SPECIFICATIONS

• Works must not be larger than larger than 72 inches

• Each artist may submit up to Three entries

• Artists must state the final sale price upon submission. Sale price cannot be changed.
  NOTE: Prices and/or size of works may be taken into consideration by the jury if deemed excessive for this exhibition

PRESENTATION
Accepted 2D artworks must be ready to hang for formal gallery presentation with all the necessary hardware as well as withstand the rigors of packaged shipment (i.e. all paper/mylar/etc. works MUST be framed or mounted, no clips or magnets will be used to hang work.) Accepted 2D artworks MUST HAVE D-RINGS OR WIRE ATTACHED prior to delivery. Accepted artworks must withstand the rigors of packaged shipment. Each work of art is received in good condition unless otherwise noted. No objects will be exhibited that might be unsafe or cause injury to the Gallery, visitors, or staff. Works damaged in transit will not be displayed.

EXHIBITION
Rising Eyes of Texas 2027 opens Saturday, February 27, 2027, and continues through Sunday, March 28, 2027. A public reception and presentation of awards will take place on Second Saturday, March 13, 2027. If your work is accepted, we encourage you and your friends, and/or family to attend the reception which takes place in conjuction with the Rockport’s monthly Austin Street Artwalk, which is free and open to the public. All accepted works must remain on view until the close of the exhibition unless otherwise agreed upon arrangements have been made in writing.

DELIVERY of ACCEPTED WORKS

• Artworks mailed or hand-delivered must arrive at Rockport Center for the Arts between Friday, February 5 - Friday, February 19, 2027.

• If delivering by hand, building hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm.

• For hand-delivery on Mondays (when the gallery is closed), please contact pam@rockportartcenter.com to schedule and confirm.

• C.O.D. deliveries will not be accepted.

• Late or damaged shipments will not be exhibited.

• Mailed artworks must be shipped in reusable packing cartons with return shipping label included.

Deliver all accepted works to:
Rockport Center for the Arts
ATTN: 2026 Rising Eyes of Texas
204 S. Austin Street
Rockport, TX 78382

RETURN of ACCEPTED WORKS
Pick-up of artwork in-person takes place Monday, March 29 - Monday, April 6, 2027. Return shipments will begin Tuesday, March 30, 2027, and artists are responsible for the return shipping costs of their work. Pre-paid labels should be sent with the artwork or emailed to pam@rockportartcenter.com prior to the exhibition’s close.

LIABILITY
All reasonable care will be given to objects in the custody of the Rockport Center for the Arts. Works are insured while on exhibition. The Art Center cannot assume responsibility for possible loss in transit or damage or deterioration incurred before the exhibition, or after if not removed/picked up as stated above. It is understood that unsold works that are not removed from the exhibition by the end of the loan agreement by the artist/lender will no longer be property of the artist/lender and the Rockport Center for the Arts reserves the right to use artwork as it sees fit.

SALES/REPRODUCTION
Artists will receive 60% of the sale price, and the Rockport Center for the Arts will receive 40% in support of administrative & exhibition costs. Rockport Center for the Arts reserves the right to reproduce accepted entries in all exhibition and promotional material.

QUESTIONS?
Contact pam@rockportartcenter.com