DOVER, DE, Feb. 12, 2015 -- The Delaware Department of Natural Resources' (DNREC) Division of Watershed Stewardship has announced that it is now accepting applications from children and student groups to participate in its 2015 rain barrel painting contest aimed at educating young Delawareans on the benefits of using rain barrels to reduce rainwater runoff and improve water quality.
Selected children or groups will be invited to paint creative designs on rain barrels that will be put on prominent public display. To enter the contest, artists must complete and submit an application by Thursday, March 5, with a description and preliminary sketch of their design. DNREC will choose contest participants based on their application, design ideas and site placements.
As part of the competition, each selected individual or group will be required to find a public home for their finished rain barrel. Placement can be at a school, with a nonprofit organization, church, municipal building, or other suitable location. Once contest participants are selected, they will have five weeks to finish their painting and submit final photographs and information requested about their works.
Artists who participate in the contest must be willing to give of their time and materials, including paint and brushes or other application tools, and provide a short biography. In exchange, the Rain Barrel Program will provide a fully-assembled 55-gallon plastic rain barrel with two coats of primer applied, plus top coat, and a location to temporarily display their work. This year's barrels have been donated by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Coca-Cola.
The finished rain barrel designs will be posted online for public voting at www.delawarewatersheds.org. The top five painted entries as chosen by online voters will be displayed at this year's Delaware State Fair, where they will be voted on again by fair visitors for best painted rain barrel. These five grand prize winners will also participate in the annual DNREC awards program on Governors Day, Thursday, July 30, at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington.
For more information about DNREC's rain barrel contest, click here.
See also:
"Grand prize winner of DE rain barrel art contest announced"
"DE contest to promote rain barrel use in improving stormwater management"
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