Public invited to vote through June 8 for best painted rain barrel
The public’s art appreciation is sought in voting for favorite entries now online in the 2016 youth and adult rain barrel painting contests sponsored by DNREC’s Watershed Assessment and Management Section. Online voting is open and continues through Wednesday, June 8, for selecting this year’s winning rain barrel artworks. To vote go to delawarewatersheds.org/2016-rain-barrel-contest.
This year’s adult and student entries - 10 entries for each category - will be on display for public viewing at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village in Dover through Tuesday, July 19. The grand prize winner in the adult division, chosen from among the five entries garnering the most online votes, will be displayed at DNREC’s building at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington during the fair in July, and will be presented to the governor during DNREC’s annual awards ceremony on Governor’s Day, Thursday, July 30.
The top five youth entries out of 10 selected for contest voting also will be displayed at DNREC’s building during the Delaware State Fair, where they will be voted on again by fair visitors for best painted rain barrel. The five youth finalists also will participate in DNREC’s Governors Day awards, with the overall winner to be announced during the ceremony.
DNREC sponsors the contests to educate the community on the benefits of using rain barrels to reduce rainwater runoff and improve water quality. Participants are chosen based on their applications and design ideas. Individuals or groups chosen each received a fully assembled, primed 55-gallon plastic barrel, topcoat and bubble wrap; they supplied their own paint, brushes and other materials or tools. They then had five weeks to finish their artistry and submit final photographs and information, as well as a short biography of themselves.
Adult and youth entries will be used for educational projects and placed in public locations. Businesses, organizations and nonprofit groups interested in displaying an artist’s rain barrel at their facility can contact Sara Wozniak at sara.wozniak@state.de.us or 302-382-0335.
