April 24-25, 2026

Location

San Marcos High School
San Marcos CISD
2601 Rattler Road
San Marcos, TX 78666

A TAEA visual art event recognizing exemplary high school student artwork at the state level. This recognition represents the pinnacle of artistic success in the VASE program. The State Visual Art Scholastic Event is the highlight of all VASE events.

Date

Friday, April 24, 2026
7:00 AM — 5:00 PM for State Judges to Adjudicate State VASE Qualifying Artwork

Saturday, April 25, 2026
7:30 AM — 4:30 PM for State VASE participants, teachers, and parents / guardians

High School VASE State Information

This is the culminating event of a year of diligence and creative genius on behalf of the art students, teachers, and administrators in Texas!!! This event begins with each of the Regional Events scheduled during the month of February. The State of Texas is divided into 20 Education Regional Service Centers. These regions serve as the dividing boundaries for participation in regional events. Students in the various regions are invited to participate in their Regional Event. Students are interviewed and their artworks are juried by certified TAEA jurors. A Rating IV is the mark of an exemplary work of art. This qualifies the student to be entered into the VASE Area Event. After the jury process is complete artworks that qualify to participate are then processed for the State Event.

The State Event is held annually in April. State qualifying artworks are assessed by jurors from across the United States on Friday. Students artists who receive a Rating IV — Exemplary at the State Event will be awarded with a state medallion and will be named an All-State Artist by TAEA and VASE.  The artwork created by these students will be featured on the VASE website.  Artworks receiving a Rating IV-Exemplary at the State Event are eligible for consideration for the highest honor in VASE, the Gold Seal Award.  The State VASE Jurors will select artworks that represent the goals of VASE and exemplary examples of concept, technique, craftsmanship and creativity in student artwork.  Students selected as Gold Seal winners will receive a Gold State Medallion and their artwork will be exhibited in a variety of venues across the state, culminating with the Gold Seal Exhibition at the annual TAEA Fall Conference.  In an effort to protect a student's Gold Seal artwork, any artwork entered that is too fragile to travel may not be transported or exhibited at selected venues outside of the state event.

On Saturday of the State VASE Event, students may participate in hands-on workshops, sketching opportunities, and compete for scholarship money. Students are also eligible for memorial scholarships. The event is intended to provide a forum for art teachers and students to meet and to grow artistically and personally.

Due to limited space, only students with state-qualifying artwork will be able to attend workshops.

The State Event is designed with the following goals:

1. To recognize exemplary high school student artwork from across the state
2. To recognize quality high school art instruction
3. To recognize art instructors for providing student opportunities
4. To inform school administrators of the contributions being made on behalf of their art instructors and define a standards-based program
5. To reinforce state and national standards in high school art programs
6. To increase TAEA membership at the high school level
7. Encourage students to elect visual art classes at the collegiate level
8. To provide a safe venue for a quality program that achieves all of the goals above

We look forward to seeing the exciting works of art and artistic growth of students and art programs in Texas. Get your students involved today!

Documentation / Uploads

Please refer to this chart for what you and your students will need to gather to fulfill each program's requirements.

	State VASE	HSVASE	JRVASE
Artwork	N/A: Previously Uploaded for Regional Event	Dashboard Upload	Dashboard Upload
Student Intent Form	N/A: Previously Uploaded for Regional Event	Fill out online	Fill out online
Reference PDF	N/A: Previously Uploaded for Regional Event	Dashboard Upload	Dashboard Upload
Regional Entry Certification Form	N/A	Turn in at event	Turn in at event
State Entry Certification Form	Turned in at Regional Event	N/A	N/A
Universal Artwork Release Form	N/A: Turned in at Regional Event	Turn in at event	Turn in at event
Check-In / Check-Out Attendance Verification Form	Turn in at State event	Turn in at event	Turn in at event

Who

High school students who receive a Rating IV during the judging process at a regional event are eligible to advance to State through a second round of judging called Area Judging. Students are notified after the regional event if their artwork will advance to the State Event.

Cost

Each individual entry requires a $20 entry fee to cover cost of judging, site rental, website management, accounting, medals and/or handling.

Where

All state qualifying artwork will be stored with the Regional Director until the State Event. Directors deliver state qualifying works to the State Event at San Marcos High School in San Marcos, TX.

When

The State Event is scheduled for the last weekend in April.

Leading up to the State Event

• Make travel arrangements to San Marcos, TX.
• In late March, qualifying student attendance is marked by the sponsoring teacher on the VASE website indicating if the student is attending the State Event.
• In late March-early April, qualifying students and teachers register online for State Event workshops.

Adjudication — Friday before State VASE

• Adjudication takes place on Friday. There are no student interviews at the State Event.
• Only designated personnel is allowed on-site Friday.
• All artwork is displayed in an exhibition after judging has concluded.
• Exemplary works will be designated with a Rating IV State Medalist label displayed on the artwork name tag.

Day of the State Event

• State teachers check-in and receive a packet containing event programs, maps, and directions for collecting artwork and teacher check-out.
• State qualifying students and teachers attend an Opening Ceremony, workshops, and a Closing Ceremony.
• All State qualifying artwork will be available for viewing in the exhibition spaces.
• Lunch is on your own. Limited options will be available onsite.
• State VASE T-shirts, letterman patches, and other items will be available for purchase.
• A list of recommended local restaurants is posted on the State VASE menu.
• College and University art representatives from all over the United States review student portfolios which can result in admissions acceptance and scholarships. See State VASE Portfolio Review link on State VASE menu.

Gold Seal

• Gold Seal recipients will be recognized during the Opening Ceremony. Look for Gold Seal tickets in the teacher check-in packet and check-in for special seating.
• Gold Seal recipients will be draped with a gold medal during the Opening Ceremony.
• Gold Seal artworks will be displayed in a special exhibition during the State Event.
• Gold Seal artwork participates in a traveling exhibition starting after the State Event and concluding at the TAEA State Conference.

At the end of the State Event

• Teachers review checkout directions provided in the teacher check-in packet. Directions are also posted on the website under the homepage menu.
• Teachers collect artwork after the Closing Ceremony.
• Collect all artwork and packing materials before checking out.
• Teachers checkout with the Regional Director after collecting artwork.
• Rating IV State Medallions are provided at teacher checkout for artworks designated as Exemplary.

After State VASE

• Images of Gold Seal and Rating IV artwork will be published on the website.
• Scholarship recipients will be posted on the website. Recipients from previous events are currently posted.