Artistically inclined youths of Licking County, brace yourselves for a chance to splash your creativity around and win some green, both for your pockets and your schools. The City of Newark Information has officially opened the floodgates for the 2026 "Licking River Round Up POSTER CONTEST," as announced via a social media post. The contest is fishing for 8.5x11 inch artwork that can reel in awareness about water pollution, which means it's time get those gears turning and pencils moving.
But it's not just about cash — the contest puts a spotlight on serious issues like water pollution, litter, and conservation, subjects that are as local as they are global, and with the Licking River winding as a vein through the community, the impetus behind such a competition feels both intimate and urgent. According to the announcement from the City of Newark Information, they're seeking illustrations wrapping around themes such as "nature, river, litter, water, recycling, earth, volunteer, pollution, protect, tires, community, soil, trees, cleanup, wildlife, environment," a long list, but one that paints the broad strokes of our environmental concerns, the range is wide indeed for young artists to find their muse, and perhaps influence their peers along the way.
This might just be the perfect weekend activity as the city cozies up under a blanket of snow. The conditions outside may hint at a world paused, but here's a chance for the kids of Licking County to make waves from within their warm homes. Though the skies pour forth their icy might, there's an opportunity to ignite a warmer, brighter flame of awareness through art.
