| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18-2 Water Resources Art & Poetry Contest Inspires Next Generation of Environmentalists
Students from New York City and the Upstate Watersheds are invited to submit Original Works of Art and Poetry; Work of the 2017 Art Champions is Available on DEP’s Flickr PageNew York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Vincent Sapienza today announced the launch of the 32nd annual Water Resources Art and Poetry Contest. Second through twelfth grade students attending public, independent, charter or parochial schools, and those who are home-schooled, in New York City and in the East and West of Hudson watersheds, are invited to create original art and compose poetry that reflects an appreciation for New York’s shared water resources. Entries will be accepted online until March 9, 2018. “With some turning their backs on science and our environment, there has never been a more important time to inspire young New Yorkers to learn about, protect and celebrate our shared natural resources,” said DEP Commissioner Sapienza. “For 32 years, the annual Art and Poetry contest has given young New Yorkers a wonderful opportunity to use their artistic abilities to learn about and express the importance of protecting our environment and water resources.” Students can submit poems and artwork including paintings, collages, three-dimensional models, photography, animation and videos of dance performances, public service announcements and songs based on five central themes: water, the drinking water system, wastewater treatment, harbor water quality and stewardship/climate change. Last year, about 1,800 New York City and watershed students representing 100 schools submitted either original poems or artwork about New York’s water resources. In May, all participants were honored at a celebration at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City, Queens, where the artwork and poems were displayed. For this year’s contest, teachers, parents and students can visit http://nyc.gov/dep/artandpoetry to view the contest guidelines and resource materials, submit entries online, see past winners, and learn more about New York City water. DEP’s Water Resources Art and Poetry program helps raise awareness about the importance of clean, high-quality drinking water, and what it takes to maintain New York City’s water supply and wastewater treatment systems. The 2018 contest will focus on five central themes that incorporate STEM and humanities disciplines:
Entries will be judged based on creativity in interpreting one or more of the contest themes, accuracy of information, originality, and skill. An impartial panel of judges will review the entries and select art and poetry winners from each category (grades 2–3, 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, and 10–12). DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than nine million residents, including eight million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewers and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 in the upstate watershed. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $20.7 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit http://nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. | |
