Arts & Cultural Events in Southeast Texas

This spring, the Museum of the Gulf Coast is hosting a youth art competition in association with the temporary traveling exhibition Anne Frank: A History for Today. On view at the Museum April 3 through May 31, 2010, the exhibition will travel from the Anne Frank Center in New York to tell the story of Anne Frank and her family juxtaposed against world events before, during and after the rise to power of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. Through the family’s story, themes of scapegoating, bullying, anti-Semitism, racism, and genocide are explored.

Open to students in grades 6 – 12, the art competition calls for butterfly creations of all shapes and styles inspired by the Holocaust Museum Houston’s Butterfly Project. The HMH is remembering the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust by collecting 1.5 million handmade butterflies (An estimated 400,000 butterflies have been collected by the HMH so far – they will eventually comprise a breath-taking exhibition scheduled for spring 2013.)

Entries for the competition must be submitted to the Museum of the Gulf Coast , 700 Procter Street , Port Arthur , TX 77640 on or before March 19, 2010.  Rules are as follows:

1.      All entries must represent a butterfly.

2.       Butterflies should be no larger than 8 x 10”. 

3.      All entries must have a registration form from the Museum of the Gulf Coast taped to the back of 2D or bottom of 3D pieces.

4.      Entries may be of any medium the artist chooses, but two-dimensional submissions are preferred for the HMH collection.

5.      Artwork not ready to hang may be pinned or taped for display.

6.      Glitter or food products should not be used.

7.      All entries will be presented for consideration to the Houston Holocaust Museum collection after May 31, 2010.

Competition entries will go on view at the Museum of the Gulf Coast and winners will be announced on Holocaust Remembrance Day in conjunction with the opening reception for Anne Frank: A History for Today on Sunday, April 11. Winners of the contest will be named in 4 categories: Best in Show, Best Original Design, Best Use of Media, and Best Interpretation of Theme. To obtain registration forms please contact Education Coordinator, Hollis Mutch, at 409-984-6453 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Teachers can learn more about the Butterfly Project at the Holocaust Museum Houston as well as lesson plans for the classroom at: http://www.hmh.org/ed_butterfly1.shtml.

The Museum of the Gulf Coast ’s hosting of Anne Frank is made possible in part by a grant from the Southeast Texas Arts Council. School tours are always FREE and guided tours are available with advanced notice. The Museum is owned and operated by the Port Arthur Historical Society in partnership with Lamar State College - Port Arthur and the City of Port Arthur . It is located at 700 Procter Street in downtown Port Arthur and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information about the Museum please visit www.museumofthegulfcoast.org or call 409.982.7000.