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.”
Call out for HubSpots
The Mississippi Sound Estuary Program (MSEP) alongside the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain announces a statewide art and slogan competition: Art Doing Its Part The competition seeks youth artwork depicting or inspired by reducing trash in freshwater and marine systems.
The first round of the Art Doing Its Part competition will be regional. MSEP and the Land Trust is seeking 7 agents to organize and oversee the regional competitions.
Each of the 7 selected agents will receive a $10,000 reimbursable stipend to offset the cost of their individual regional competitions.
The selected agents will be tasked with
1) organizing a regional art/slogan competition and selecting one winner whose art will be entered into a juried exhibition. (Digital marketing materials, submission rules, and online portal to receive applications to be provided by MSEP)
Timeline: 8/1/2026 – 10/15/2026
2) organizing a community litter clean-up day themed around winning entries to raise awareness
Timeline: 11/1/2026 – 4/30/2028
Each of the 7 selected regional winners will be entered into a juried exhibition. The winning artwork/slogan will be used for a statewide billboard campaign, social and news media, and a traveling art exhibit to attend events and host sites across the state. The winner will also be featured in Mississippi Coastal and Inland Cleanup Programs’ activities for the entire year after competition completion as well as in a beach beautification project. Lastly, the winning student’s school will receive the installation of 10 water bottle filling stations.
Partner:
