Having been to several VASE competitions with my daughter — the Visual Arts Scholastic Event, sponsored by the Texas Art Education Association — I can testify they can be very energizing and eye-opening, seeing all of the artwork from the state’s high school art students.

This is a  pretty cool little video about the most recent Culture Shapers, Houston’s annual city-wide arts competition. Sponsored by Houston-area businesses, it awards up to $100,000 in prizes to students from 70 high schools — the largest arts contest of its kind. (It also includes awards to art teachers and a few years ago added the Young Voices of Houston contest to reward performing arts students).

Take a look. Yes, Dallas has cash awards and fellowships to encourage young artists, but nothing of this richly endowed magnitude.

Thud. That was a hint being dropped.