The City of Carrollton is calling on its community to play a pivotal role in the beautification of its historic downtown area — by voting on art, no less. In what's being touted as the first Storm Drain Art Contest, Carrollton residents are asked to select their favorite design from nine finalists, with the winning artwork set to adorn one of the downtown's stormwater inlets. The city's initiative aims to educate the public on water conservation, pollution prevention, and natural habitat protection through visually engaging means — quite literally bringing art to the streets.
The process began months ago when artists were invited to submit their designs, Carrollton gurus have whittled down the choices to a final nine. The committee, comprised of city staffers, and local stakeholders will delegate the remaining artwork to six other drains, but the coveted "People's Choice" title will be slapped onto the design raking in the most community votes. And the stakes? Well, the artist behind the public's darling will select their drain canvas first, according to the City of Carrollton, Texas.
Voting commenced Friday, February 23, and wraps up just as March beckons a farewell, precisely at 11:59 p.m. on the fourth. Locals eager to exercise their civic creativeness can skip over to cityofcarrollton.com/stormwater to cast their ballot and simultaneously, advocate for the simmering talent within their community.
Back when submissions were open, a kaleidoscope of criteria awaited local dabblers. The contest, open to anyone within striking distance of the DFW area and boasting a minimum age of twelve, called for original designs that skirted the realms of graffiti and advertisement, a snub to any semblance of corporate or political posturing. Winners aren't just looking at their art gracing the urban landscape; they're also getting the chance to sign their work and have their bios emblazoned on the city website. Plus, the city provides all the eco-friendly painting supplies.
Each painted inlet serves as a glaring, colorful reminder to passersby about the importance of keeping stormwater untainted, seeing as it inevitably waltzes its way into the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. And that is where the impromptu art gallery that is the streets of Carrollton plays a broader, educational role—a reminder that art, as much as it may be a treat for sore eyes, could well be a trojan horse for a much-needed public service announcement.
