About the Program
Mississippi and connecting water bodies face significant litter problems, much of which originate from inland areas. Items like bottles, cigarette butts, straws, and fragmented plastics travel through rivers, streams, and stormwater systems to eventually reach coastal waters, affecting human health, local economies, and aquatic life. Addressing this issue requires a statewide, collaborative approach, involving both inland and coastal communities.
To raise awareness of the connection between local litter and the pollution of our waterways, Art Doing Its Part is a statewide art and slogan competition aimed at personalizing the issue for communities by showcasing litter challenges specific to their regions, illustrating how local actions impact local and distant environments. By fostering a sense of shared responsibility, the contest encourages communities to take pride in their surroundings and actively participate in waste reduction, prevention, and cleanup efforts.
A quote
from First Lady Elee Reeves
“Mississippi is filled with natural beauty and talented artists of all ages. The Art Doing Its Part competition is a great way for young people to help keep Mississippi the most beautiful state in America.”
Winners
Each participating school will select one student artist to advance to the next round of judging. From there, each regional hub will choose one winner from the schools in its region, resulting in seven finalists total—one from each region.
An overall winner will then be selected by a panel of diverse specialists based on three criteria: how well the work addresses the issue of litter, the quality of the composition and how effectively the artistic elements support the theme, and the creativity and originality of the expression or story.
The overall winner’s school will receive 10 water refill stations. All seven finalists will have their artwork and slogan featured in a statewide marketing campaign and showcased in a traveling art exhibit across the state. Each finalist’s school will have the opportunity to participate in a local cleanup, supporting litter removal and the beautification of their community.
Materials for schools
Competition general information
A document that explains the competition, guidelines, and submission instructions for schools.
Classroom Presentation
A presentation for teachers to use as suplemental material during class.
Hubs can also use this presentation for teacher workshops
Supplemental Education Document
A document that dives into the issues of litter, watersheds, and how to create a successful art and slogan campaign.
Pairs with the classroom presentation.
Other Educational materials
Here you will find downloadable flyers about litter, sustainable solutions, and a microplastic sampling experiment,
Partner:
