One Water Art Contest

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is joining with the Community Engagement Campaign’s regional water utilities to hold its third annual Source Water Protection Art Contest. Local student artists, grades 9 – 12, can submit their art or short video which captures the importance of protecting our local water sources for a chance to win a prize.

Create art that portrays positive messages focused on our local sources of water. Stormwater (water that flows off the land), and wastewater effluent (processed and cleaned water from what gets flushed down toilets and poured down drains) enters local streams which flow into the Potomac River (a.k.a. our region's source water). Source water gets purified and treated to be used as drinking water by downstream communities.

Regional water utilities would like to feature artwork in their outreach materials and messaging campaigns. These may include social media, posters, brochures, notecards, and annual reports. 

Congrats on the winners of the 2024 One Water Regional Art Contest! 

View the submission form. 

Contest details and requirements:

The sources of all drinking water, both tap water and bottled water, include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Submissions should tell a clear and creative message by highlighting one or all of the following:   

• How human actions on the land can positively impact water quality  (e.g., mindful use of winter salts and lawn fertilizers, picking up dog waste, and preventing motor oil and car wash water from entering storm drains).
• A community’s connection to local waterways – in terms of drinking water sources as well as places for recreation and enjoyment   
• The role of individuals and water utilities to protect our sources of water through environmental stewardship and responsible wastewater treatment  

Submission Categories: 

1. Video - 15-second video for use on social media.

OR

2. Painting and Drawing - includes acrylic, pastels, watercolor, oil paints, colored pencils, crayons, gouache, spray paint or other non-digital media where pigment is applied to a physical surface such as canvas or paper. 

OR 

3. Photography and Digital Art - includes art produced with a camera, on a computer, digital tablet, or phone. 

Prizes:

$300 grand prize per category  

$150 honorable mention per category  

$100 for each grand prize winners’ teacher  

Requirements:

• Contestants must be in grades 9 - 12. Homeschool students are welcome to join.  
• This contest is only open to students living in the COG region.
• Artwork must meet these criteria: 
  • Represent the waterways and habitats found in this region.  
  • Portray water and human interactions in a positive and helpful light. 
  • Is action-oriented showing environmental stewardship actions that individuals and utilities take to protect source water. 
  • Can be adopted for use by utilities in their messaging campaigns. 
  • Is original and created by artist submitting the piece. 
  • No logos, or words on the art. 

View the scoring rubric for this contest. 

Judges will make selections based on the quality, composition, content, originality, social impact and creativity. Decisions are final and in sole and absolute discretion of COG and its members. By participation in this contest, artists are giving permission for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and members of the Community Engagement Committee (CEC) to use their art in all media formats, including print or electronic, and to display it at various public events. Artists will retain ownership of their original art. 

Deadline:  

Submissions will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on February 29, 2024.

Additional Resources: 

Interstate Commission for the Potomac River Basin Source Water Protection 

Fairfax County’s Water Journey (video)

Alexandria’s “One Water” (video) 

10 Ways You Can Act! for Clean Water 

10 Ways You Can Protect Our Water 

What You Can Do to "Protect the Source"

Submit your work by completing the form below.