Big Thicket Region, Texas – bigthicketART, a new nonprofit created by the Harrison Family Foundation for the advancement of the arts in the Big Thicket region, announced a new competition aimed at inspiring young reporters in the area to share their voices with the region – and is giving away a new iPhone XR to help them do it.

The “Big Thicket Reporter Internship” competition is open to anyone who lives or attends high school in the Big Thicket region (Montgomery, San Jacinto, Polk, Jasper, Tyler, Hardin, Liberty, Orange or Sabine counties). The candidate must be at least 16 years old, have transportation and parent/guardian authorization.

“Our ideal candidate should have a positive energy, be kind to others, be self-motivated and have impressive tech, writing and verbal skills,” says bigthicketART Founder and Director Jenifer Head. “We want to find a truly unique voice in the area, and nurture that person’s ability to share the beauty and the truth of life in the Big Thicket.”

In addition to the iPhone XR, the winning reporter will receive a part-time, contract position with bigthicketART as the organization’s reporter. The reporter will be paid per article with a requirement of one story (with video and picture requirements) per week. The winner will also get to collaborate with The Harrison Family Foundation and veteran journalists on story ideas, content suggestions and edits to their stories.

Interested applicants must submit a sample blog of 1000 to 3000 words that includes five pictures and a video clip between 30 seconds and a minute in length, as well as a short biography. Complete requirements for the contest are available on the bigthicketART website. Submissions will be accepted between May 1, 2019 and May 27, 2019. The top three submissions will be invited to interview, and the winner will receive the iPhone and contract.

bigthicketART is excited to offer many new opportunities for and within the community, including the 2019 Big Thicket Art Competition and a Summer Big Thicket Reporter Internship.  BigthicketART will also host weekly and monthly photography and art competitions on social media.

We believe that everyone sees this world in a unique way, and through our individual experiences, cultivates a distinct voice.  We also believe that everyone has the potential to be an artist, and that one of our goals in this world is to find the medium that best conveys what we are feeling, what we are saying, and, ultimately, most effectively captures who we are.  We want to celebrate THAT! 

 Located in Kountze, Texas, the Harrison Family Foundation is in the heart of the Big Thicket and aims to inspire others to love and support the Thicket as the family is inspired to.  Beyond building a community for art and artisans, the foundation seeks to fund scholarship and research of the Big Thicket flora and fauna.