DOVER, DE, Jan. 14, 2014 -- In an effort to educate the public on the benefits of using rain barrels to reduce rainwater runoff and improve water quality, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources (DNREC) and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) are sponsoring a month-long rain-barrel painting contest held through Friday, Feb. 14.
Artists from across the state will be selected and invited to paint creative designs on rain barrels for public display. DNREC and DelDOT judges will choose artists based on their applications and prospective designs for their rain barrels. Once selected by the judges, they will have five weeks to paint and return their barrels. The winning barrels will be displayed at the Delaware Agricultural Museum in Dover during the month of April, with the grand prize winner later also having their rain barrel placed at Woodburn, the Governors Residence, for display.
Not only will visitors to the museum and governors residence be viewing the winning rain barrel artworks, but photos of all decorated barrels will be publicized and also posted on the Delaware Watersheds website. Additionally, following the contest, the rain barrels will be made available for display at Delaware events, state businesses and municipal government offices, and also given as prizes for social media contests.
To participate, an artist or group of artists must submit a completed application postmarked or dated (if emailed) no later than February 14. Each artist selected for the contest must be willing to donate time, creativity, a short biography, and interpretation of design, paint and the use of brushes or other application tools. In exchange, DNREC's Rain Barrel Program will provide a fully-assembled and primed rain barrel, sandpaper, top coat, bubble wrap, and a location to temporarily display the work.
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