ACT students in years 5 to 12 are encouraged to draw, paint, or create digital art that educates Canberrans about how to protect ACT waterways.
The artworks the students create will be printed as large, durable, weatherproof stickers, and installed on top of stormwater drain covers. Short videos will be featured on the H2OK website and on social media.
The DrainART competition draws attention to how our actions at home and in the streets affect the health of our waterways. Colourful, provocative, and creative artworks remind the public that rubbish and pollution on streets travel straight to lakes, ponds and wetlands, and on to the Molonglo and Murrumbidgee rivers.
“Through DrainART, students will encourage the community to take actions that improve water quality and safeguard our water sources for the future,” Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions, said.
“It’s important we do what we can to keep our waterways healthy by only letting rain down our stormwater drains.
“To avoid flooding, urban stormwater systems are designed to move water away from our homes and streets quickly.
“This means that the water running through urban areas is quick to carry rubbish, pollution, leaves, fertiliser, and soil sediments directly to our lakes, ponds, and rivers. This creates water quality problems, and can result in toxic algal blooms and lead to lake closures across the city.”
The DrainART competition was last held in 2018. Submissions for this year’s competition are now open, and will close on 6 April. Participants can win a voucher worth up to $150, or a special Minister’s prize worth $300. All winning artworks will be published online, and selected designs may also be used in public installations around the ACT.
Education minister Yvette Berry said: “Our ACT schools teach students about how they can positively contribute to their communities and lead by example.
“I’m always impressed by the creativity and artistic talents of our children and young people, and I have no doubt that they will produce beautiful pieces that will start important conversations.”
To find out more about the 2023 DrainART competition, visit the ACT Government Environment website.
Schools can register their interest through Eventbrite.
