***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
3rd Annual BILL NEALE AUTOMOTIVE FINE ART AWARD
FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ANNOUNCES CALL FOR ENTRIES
- Call For Entries Opened October 15, 2025 for Eligible U.S. High School Students in Grades 10-12
- Award Honors World-Renowned Dallas-based Artist Bill Neale
- Submissions accepted through February 12, 2026 at 11:59 pm CST.
Flower Mound, TX - (October 23, 2025) - The Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) is pleased to announce the official call for entries for the 2026 Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students! The award, in its third year, honors world-renowned automotive artist Bill Neale by recognizing and encouraging excellence in automotive fine art among high school students. Neale passed away in 2021 at the age of 95.
The Award is open to U.S. high school students in 10-12th grades. Students attending a non-U.S. high school in grades 10-12 as a result of a parent serving in the U.S. Military are also eligible. The competition focuses on the traditional fine art mediums Neale so skillfully mastered. Neale was well-known for his posters promoting automotive events, races and road rallies. Entrants are asked to create an original, signed poster depicting a road rally, automotive or racing event. Cash prizes and BLICK Art Materials gift cards will be awarded to first, second and third place winners. Submissions accepted October 15, 2025 - February 12, 2026. For rules, project brief and legal terms, please visit www.billnealeaward.org.
Along with inspiring future automotive artists, the Award also seeks to support arts education by making art accessible to all young people. For 2026, the Award is proud to continue its support of the Texas Cultural Trust Art Box project, an initiative within its Arts Access program. Our donation is being used to support Hunt ISD elementary students impacted by the devastating July 4th, 2025 flooding in Central Texas.
"Our hearts go out to those impacted by the recent historic flooding in Texas," said Leslie Neale, Bill Neale’s Daughter/Terlingua Racing Team. "Artistic expression can help in the healing process and my dad would be honored that our donation to the Texas Cultural Trust Art Box Project is helping to provide creative support for elementary students in a community in the process of rebuilding."
“Thank you to the Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students for their generous sponsorship of the Texas Cultural Trust’s Art Box program,” said Heidi Marquez Smith, CEO for TXCT. “Your support empowers young artists and helps to inspire self-expression and imagination of children who have little to no access to creative resources.”
The Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Automotive Art Award for High School Students would not be possible without the generous support of the following sponsors: BLICK Art Materials, The Carroll Shelby Foundation, Terlingua Racing Team and the Texas Auto Writers Association.
BLICK Gives Back: https://www.dickblick.com/about-blick/gives-back
The Carroll Shelby Foundation: https://foundation.shelby.com
Terlingua Racing Team: https://terlinguaracingteam.com
Texas Auto Writers Association: https://texasautowriters.org/
Media Contact: amplemons.tvproducer@gmail.com.
About the Texas Auto Writers Association
Founded in 1987, the Texas Auto Writers Association has grown to become one of the most recognized and reputable automotive press organizations in the industry. TAWA’s mission is to promote quality and accuracy in automotive journalism and to disseminate information about the automotive industry through news-related print, online and broadcast media. In addition to promoting journalism opportunities and professionalism internally, TAWA funds scholarships to journalism students.