Call for Art and Writing

Applicants & Entry Artwork

• All applicants must be residents of Houston and at least 18 years old to apply.
• Collective entries must designate ONE lead artist to apply on behalf of the group.
• Individual artists or collectives may submit up to 3 artworks for consideration, or a series that contains up to 3 pieces.
• 2-D, 3-D, and literature are all accepted art forms. Please see the guidelines below.  
• Submitted entries will be reviewed by The Health Museum staff for eligibility before going to the jurors.

Entries must be appropriate for public viewing of all ages. Selected works will be displayed at The Health Museum throughout the duration of the exhibition, October 2025 to Spring 2026. Questionable or non-relevant material or subject matter will result in disqualification at the discretion of The Health Museum.

The Health Museum welcomes a wide range of media. Due to the nature of our space, which serves thousands of children, families, and school groups each month, all submitted work must be safe for public display and durable for high-traffic environments.

Submissions may include, but are not limited to, paintings, poems, short essays, drawings, photography, sculpture, digital art, or mixed media pieces. Work should reflect personal or cultural perspectives on aging, memory, identity, resilience, or the passage of time. We welcome pieces that explore sensory changes, intergenerational social connection, or the physical and emotional marks left by life’s journey.

• All submissions must be original works created by the artist/writer. Plagiarism or copyright infringement will result in disqualification.
• Literature entries must not exceed a 5-minute read, or 1000 words, submitted as a PDF.
• Each artwork or written piece must be submitted as a separate application. Participants may submit up to three total entries, but only one work per submission form. (For example, if you are submitting two paintings and one poem, you will complete three separate applications, one for each piece)
• Visual artwork must not exceed 40 in x 40 in x 40 in in any direction. Any artwork larger than this size must seek written approval from The Healing Arts Manager
• Multiple clean digital images and files are required upon submission to give an understanding of the whole artwork, angles, details, and display. The digital images should be no larger than 20 mb, with a minimum DPI of 150.

Materials to Avoid

• Fragile (e.g., unprotected glass, cracked ceramics)
• Sharp or hazardous (e.g, exposed wires, loose nails, sharp edges)
• Highly porous, degradable, or odorous (e.g, untreated organic matter, unsealed natural materials, live plants, food items)
• Toxic or reactive (e.g, uncured resins, aerosols, unstable adhesives)
• Excessively heavy or difficult to mount securely

Museum staff reserves the right to modify display plans as needed to ensure public safety and preservation. All artworks must also reflect the mission of The Health Museum: to foster wonder and curiosity about health, medical science, and the human body. Participants are encouraged to visit The Health Museum to have a thorough understanding of its experience.

By submitting an application, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

• All artwork submitted must be created by the artist. Groups or Collectives must assign one lead artist.
• The artwork must not include any logos or branding.
• Eligible entries will be reviewed by the museum staff and a panel of jurors. Finalists will be notified in August of 2025.
• If your artwork is chosen, you are responsible for arranging the delivery and pick-up of the artwork. Late deliveries may not be accepted without written permission from the Healing Arts Program Manager.
• Writers must grant permission to reproduce their writing for display purposes.
• All entries may be used for educational and programming purposes by the museum.
• Entries must be tastefully rendered for public viewing of all ages. Questionable or non-relevant material or subject matter will result in disqualification at the discretion of The Health Museum.
• Entries that do not meet the requirements may be rejected. However, we are open to creativity. Please contact the Healing Arts Program Manager if you have questions about your content.
• Applicants must not share any excessive or personal health information in their submissions. The privacy and dignity of individuals, including patients and family members, must be respected. Any information shared should be done so with the understanding that it may be displayed publicly as part of the exhibition, and applicants should ensure they are comfortable sharing this information.