Environmental Commission’s Seventh Annual Eco-Heroes Art Contest Open for Submissions

BLOOMINGTON, IND. — The Environmental Commission of the City of Bloomington (EC) is excited to announce its seventh annual Eco-Heroes art contest. The Eco-Heroes contest seeks to connect the natural curiosity of students and residents to their passion for the environment and creativity as artists, writers, and craftspeople. This year’s theme is “Protecting our Pollinator Pals.” Pollinator species include bees, butterflies, insects, birds, and bats, and it’s important to protect them to sustain the quality of the ecological services they provide, which extend far beyond pollination. Last year’s event was a great success with more than 70 tremendous and diverse submissions, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, quilts, and essays.

For the second year in a row, the Eco-Heroes contest is open to City of Bloomington residents of all ages — from Pre-Kindergarten through adult. First-, second-, and third-place winners will be selected from the following age categories: Pre-K to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade, 6th to 8th grade, 9th to 12th grade, and adult (18+). The contest is also open to all media, including 2D visual art (e.g. drawings, paintings, photographs), 3D visual art (e.g. sculptures, fiber, metal), digital media (e.g. graphic design, videos), performance art (e.g. songs, raps, sketches), and language art (e.g. essays, poems). In addition to the honor of being named an Eco Hero, Mayor John Hamilton will be presenting each winner with prizes donated by local businesses during the recognition ceremony on Saturday, April 21 at 10:00 AM in the Council Chambers of Showers City Hall.

The EC and the City of Bloomington recognize the importance of pollinators to the environment. More specifically, it’s the amount and genetic diversity of pollinators and other species that form the backbone of biodiversity. Several recent and upcoming EC and City initiatives have emphasized Bloomington’s commitment to strengthening biodiversity, including the planting of native plants and removal of invasives in City parks, the installation of native wildflower gardens on public property, and the EC’s report, the Bloomington Habitat Connectivity Plan. 

All entries should be dropped off at the Department of Planning & Transportation at Showers City Hall (401 N. Morton St., Suite 130) by 5:00 PM on Friday, April 6, 2018. Text or digital files may also be emailed to Riley Zipper at zipperr@bloomington.in.gov. Submissions must include the artist’s name, grade (if applicable), school (if applicable) and contact information including telephone and email. 

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