THEME: All of Us Can Help Keep Rivers Clean: Let’s prevent nonpoint source pollution!
ORGANIZED BY: The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership with support from the Environmental Protection Agency and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
OVERVEW: Nonpoint source pollution (NSP), or water pollution that does not originate from a single, distinct source, such as a pipe, is an ongoing threat to water quality in the state of Colorado. The Art & Poetry Contest is designed to educate the community about the challenges faced by our waterways and opportunities to reduce the impacts of harmful nonpoint source pollutants such as sediment, chemicals, bacteria, recreation, post-wildfire runoff.
PRIZES: Winners in each age category will receive: 1st Place = $200, 2nd Place = $100, 3rd Place = $50. Plus, one person will win $150 plus the People’s Choice Award. Art and poems will be displayed at the Ridgway RiverFest on June 27 at Rollans Park, Ridgway, CO and winners will be announced on July 2.
TIMEFRAME: Submissions will be accepted from May 20 – June 24 at midnight.
OPEN TO: All students (including home schoolers), who live in either Delta, Montrose, Ouray, Gunnison, Hinsdale, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties. The contest will be split into two age groups:
- 4 – 13 years
- 14 – 20 years
ENTRY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
- All art and poetry should be themed around nonpoint source pollution and how to reduce its impacts.
- All submissions must be entrant’s original work.
- Entry must include: Name, Age, Grade, Address, Phone, and Email for entrant, plus Name, Email and Phone for entrant’s parent if under 18 years old.
ART CRITERIA: All art media is acceptable. For submission, please send a photo of the artwork and a description of up to 100 words. Arrangements will be made in June to get the art piece to UWP staff to be displayed at the Ridgway RiverFest on June 27 at Rollans Park in Ridgway, CO.
POETRY CRITERIA:
- No longer than 400 words.
- No foul/offensive language.
- Poems in all languages will be accepted. Non-English poems should have a translation provided as well.
- For submission, please send the poem in an MSword or PDF document file.
JUDGING AND EVALUATION: UWP Board and staff members and two to three community judges (i.e. teachers, artists, writers, scientists, etc.) will review materials based on the submission criteria above, plus the following:
- how well the entry communicates about nonpoint source pollution
- how well the entry promotes actionable stewardship
- creativity and overall impression
- quality of artistic and poetic composition
SUBMISSION: Email all entries and questions to info@uncompahgrewatershed.org, with Art & Poetry Contest in the subject line.
