Young artists in Raleigh with an eye on the environment have a chance to let their creativity flow and potentially bank some green, thanks to Capture It! Stormwater Arts Contest. Open to students in grades 8 through 12, the city-sponsored competition is looking for fresh takes on a vital issue: protecting local streams and lakes from water pollution. According to the City of Raleigh's announcement, the deadline for submissions is February 28, with a juicy $500 cash prize dangling like a carrot for winners in two categories – original artwork and short video creations.
Their work could become part of the city's visual conversation about pollution prevention, winners get a nod at the Earth Day event at Dorothea Dix Park, and select pieces will be exhibited at the Pullen Arts Center Youth & Teen Gallery, so basically it’s an all-around win-win. The rules are straightforward: whip up either a piece of artwork or a 60-second video that speaks to preventing water pollution in Raleigh, and submit your entry via the contest website accompanied by an application, it's that simple.
But, let's zoom out a bit — this isn't just about cash prizes and accolades. The Capture It! Stormwater Arts Contest is a component of the broader Environmental Awards Program, which throws a spotlight on a spectrum of awards and contests for the denizens of Raleigh. More importantly, it’s part of a city-wide performance titled the Raleigh Community Climate Action Plan, a strategic opus aimed at harmonizing urban living with environmental stewardship.
Residents eager to toss their hat into the ring have more than two months to finesse their entries, which is ample time to brainstorm, create, edit, and polish a submission that could spark dialogue and change, meanwhile contestants can do their part in chiseling the future of Raleigh’s environmental narrative for the better. For more details on rules and the submission process, the curious and the crafty can head over to the contest website.
