Austin, TX – The Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) is once again calling on artists from across the state to submit entries for the 2025 Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) poster competition. Celebrated each October, the DEAM poster has become a powerful visual tribute to the talents and contributions of Texans with disabilities.
Each year, one artist is selected to have their work featured in the official DEAM poster, a piece that will be distributed to over 2,000 businesses, organizations, and government offices statewide. The winning design will also be showcased in the Texas HireAbility Campaign and honored during the prestigious Lex Frieden Employment Awards ceremony.
“These posters are more than just art—they are symbols of possibility, representation, and pride,” said a spokesperson for the GCPD. “They remind us of the vital role that people with disabilities play in our communities and workforce.”
Submission Details and Guidelines
Texas artists with disabilities are encouraged to submit original work in any visual media format, from painting and photography to digital illustration and mixed media. However, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation of submissions is strictly prohibited.
Artists should email their high-resolution digital artwork files to GCPD@gov.texas.gov. Physical submissions, including color photocopies or images on CD, may also be sent by mail. The original artwork is not required at the time of entry.
To be considered, each submission must include:
- A signed entry form
- A brief artist statement
- A description connecting the artwork to the national theme of employment and disability awareness
- A headshot of the artist
- The artist’s legal name
Entries must be submitted or postmarked no later than June 30, 2025, and there is no fee to participate.
A Legacy of Creativity and Inclusion
The selected artwork will not only be used in promotional campaigns throughout the state, but it will also be placed on permanent display in the Office of the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities in Austin. Additionally, the artist will receive special recognition as a featured guest during the Lex Frieden Employment Awards—one of Texas’s most distinguished events honoring inclusive employment practices.
Artists and community members can view past winning entries and learn more about careers in the arts through GCPD’s “Art Works!” webinar and online poster gallery, which showcases two decades of DEAM poster art.
For complete submission guidelines, entry forms, and inspiration from previous winners, visit the GCPD website: gov.texas.gov/disabilities.
Deadline to submit: June 30, 2025
Email: GCPD@gov.texas.gov
No entry fee required
This annual competition is more than a contest—it is a celebration of creativity, inclusion, and the transformative power of art. Don’t miss your chance to share your vision and voice.
