Feeding Creativity Youth Art Competition

Imagine What Can Grow

K–12 students throughout Central Texas are invited to imagine what can grow when people, families and communities have what they need to thrive.

The Feeding Creativity Youth Art Competition celebrates student voice, creativity and possibility while encouraging young artists to explore the role nutritious food, opportunity, connection and community can play in helping people thrive.

One student’s artwork will be featured on a Central Texas Food Bank delivery truck traveling throughout our 21-county service area.

Who Can Participate

• Open to K–12 students
• Students must live or attend school within the Central Texas Food Bank’s 21-county service area
• Participation is free

Important Dates

• Competition opens: Nov. 1, 2026
• Submission deadline: Feb. 26, 2027
• People’s Choice voting: March 22–26, 2027
• Judges voting: March 22–April 2, 2027
• Gallery Night: May 12, 2027

Registration opens this November. Check back here for complete entry guidelines and submission information.

How It Works

Getting involved is simple:

1. Imagine
Think about this year’s theme, Imagine What Can Grow. What becomes possible when people and communities have what they need to thrive?

2. Create
Create an original piece of artwork that brings your ideas to life.

3. Register and submit
Registration opens this November. Complete entry guidelines and artwork submission instructions will be available on this page when the competition opens.

About the Theme: Imagine What Can Grow

What can grow when people have the food, resources and support they need to thrive?

This year’s theme invites students to think creatively about growth in all its forms — from food growing in the ground to ideas, opportunities, relationships and stronger communities.

Artists might find inspiration in:

• Nutritious food and healthy communities
• Seeds, roots, gardens and the natural world
• Ideas, learning and new opportunities
• Friendship, connection and people helping one another
• Communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive

These are only starting points. There is no single right answer — students are encouraged to use their own imagination and experiences to show what growth and possibility look like to them.

Prizes & Recognition

Student artwork will be recognized in three grade groups:

• Grades K–4
• Grades 5–8
• Grades 9–12

Each grade group will include awards recognizing creativity, storytelling and artistic expression, as well as a People’s Choice Award selected by the community.

Grand Prize

The Grand Prize recognizes a student whose artwork best exemplifies the spirit of this year’s theme, Imagine What Can Grow. The winning artwork will be featured on a Central Texas Food Bank delivery truck traveling throughout our 21-county service area — sharing the student’s vision with communities throughout Central Texas.

People’s Choice Awards

The community will have a chance to celebrate young artists, too. People’s Choice voting will take place March 22–26, with one People’s Choice Award selected in each grade group.

More information about how to view the artwork and vote will be shared closer to the voting period.

Gallery Night

Feeding Creativity will culminate with Gallery Night on May 12, 2027, at the Central Texas Food Bank, where student artwork will be celebrated and competition winners will be recognized.

Additional event details will be announced closer to Gallery Night.

For Teachers & Group Leaders

Educators, after-school program leaders and community organizations are encouraged to help young artists participate.

Groups will be able to:

• Encourage participation from multiple students
• Incorporate the competition into classroom or program activities
• Coordinate student entries and artwork submissions
• Use competition materials to share the opportunity with families

Registration opens this November. Additional resources for teachers, schools and groups will be available when the competition opens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a cost to participate?
No. Participation is completely free.

When does the competition open?
The competition opens Nov. 1, 2026. Registration and complete submission guidelines will be available on this page.

When is artwork due?
The submission deadline is Feb. 26, 2027.

Can multiple students from the same school participate?
Yes. We encourage participation from classrooms, schools and youth programs throughout the Central Texas Food Bank’s service area.

How will People’s Choice voting work?
Community voting will take place March 22–26, 2027, with one People’s Choice Award selected in each grade group. Voting details will be announced closer to the voting period.

Get Ready to Create

Registration opens this November.

Start imagining what can grow when people, families and communities have what they need to thrive — and check back here for registration, complete entry guidelines and artwork submission information.

Sponsorships

We are currently seeking sponsors for Feeding Creativity. Sponsorship helps us celebrate youth creativity, elevate student voices and create meaningful opportunities for young people throughout Central Texas.

Additional sponsorship information for this year’s competition will be available soon.

Questions about Feeding Creativity? Contact us at artcomp@centraltexasfoodbank.org.