Art Contest Seeks to Bag Poo-lution

2010 'Protect Philadelphia's Hidden Streams' Art Contest

More than 389,000 dogs live in Philadelphia according to a formula used by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and while most owners pick up after their pets, not all of them do. That is why the Philadelphia Water Department, together with the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, is asking students in grades six through 12 to film 30-second videos showing how pet waste is “poo-luting” local waters.

In addition to videos, students in kindergarten through grade 12 are invited to submit drawings depicting other forms of stormwater runoff pollution during this, the “Protect Philadelphia’s Hidden Streams” Art Contest. The deadline for entries is March 5. Please click here to download a brochure containing rules and an entry form (PDF file).

Winning drawings will serve to educate millions of commuters when they appear in a SEPTA advertising campaign this spring and an exhibit inside Philadelphia International Airport’s Youth Art Gallery next winter. These, along with winning videos, will also be posted to websites hosted by the Philadelphia Water Department, Flickr and YouTube.

Other prizes to be awarded at a ceremony in April include:

framed certificates
a variety of art supplies
a contest calendar available for free inside the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
gift cards up to $100 in value for students and $25 for teachers