Even though we just finished National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October, it’s already time to start thinking about this year’s initiative and the poster art. The deadline to enter this year’s contest is March 15, Here’s the heads-up on a little healthy competition from the official announcement:
“Each year in October, the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities produces a Texas poster for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which is distributed free of charge to businesses all across the State.
The art featured on the poster each year is an original piece created by a Texas artist with a disability. The winning artwork is incorporated into the national theme announced each year by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). The design of our Texas posters has become so popular that, in addition to our statewide distribution, we frequently have requests from other states. In 2013, we distributed more than 2,500 posters.
Submissions from Texas artists with disabilities can be sent to us as a photo of the original work in a digital format, ideally a JPEG or PDF, attached to an email (this is the preferred method), OR as a color photocopy OR with the image on a CD sent by postal mail. The original artwork does not need to be submitted with the entry. There is NO FEE for entries. All entries must be accompanied by a signed Entry Form, which is available on our website along with the Submission Guidelines. Entries must be received by email or postmarked by March 15; the winner will be announced by April 15. Artwork in any media is accepted; there is no specific theme required.
Once the panel of judges has determined the winner, we will make arrangements to receive the original artwork, which will be designed into the 2014 Texas NDEAM poster. The original art and the poster will be on permanent display in the Office of the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, and will be featured in offsite exhibits from time to time. The winning artist is also invited to be a featured guest at the annual Lex Frieden Employment Awards ceremony in October.
For Submission Guidelines, Entry Form, a view of the past NDEAM posters, and more information, please visit our NDEAM page on our website or contact us directly. Contact information is listed on the website.”
Wow! What a great opportunity for a new or developing artist who has a disability to get discovered! Take a look at the great winners from the past two years.
Here’s 2012’s poster:
And this one is from last year. Inspiration, anyone?
