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Since 2008, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Museum has sponsored an annual art contest to encourage young artists to express Texas heritage and history. As students research the subject matter for their artwork, they learn about Texas historic sites, events, and individuals that lived in Texas during the republic era of 1820-1850.
The contest is presented during DRT’s annual convention, mentioned at the district workshops, supported by local chapters, promoted by social media, and posted on the DRT website. This year the DRT Museum received 145 entries from students in grades 1-12 throughout the state.
The 2026 Republic of Texas Museum Art Contest first-place winners are Faryn Ellis, Curren Bauman, and Gracyn Goeppner.
While elementary and junior high school student participation was similar to 2025, high school participation increased eight-fold. Additionally, school participation doubled from the previous year. Students from across the state participated, from small towns and big cities alike.
“We, as a committee, were extremely impressed with the high quality of artistic expression demonstrated in all our entries. We commend the accomplishments of this year’s winners and encourage all students to continue to explore and share the story of the history of Texas through their art,” Kathleen Townzen, DRT Museum Chair, stated.
All entries are reviewed for compliance to contest guidelines, then a preliminary assessment for originality and creativity, quality of artwork, composition, and color or detail. Finally, all members of the Museum Committee have a vote for first, second, and third place nominees. The votes are then tabulated to determine division winners.
The contest is divided into 3 divisions for elementary grades, junior high or middle school grades, and high school grades with prize money awarded to the winners.
The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) is a nonprofit organization of nearly 8,000 women descended from citizens of the Republic of Texas – a sovereign nation from 1836 to 1846. Organized in 1891, DRT continues to grow and through its committed volunteers and 93 chapters to perpetuate the spirit of Texas independence; encourage historical research; and aid in the preservation of documents and historically significant properties such as the Alamo Complex and French Legation. For more about DRT, visit www.drtinfo.org.
