The Washington County Extension Office is seeking artists to paint 11 storm drains next year in Bella Vista, Bentonville, Fayetteville and Springdale.
The 2015 murals will add to 34 storm drains painted over the past three years through the Extension Office's Upstream Art project.
"UpStream Art gives artists a chance to express their imaginations in an educational channel," Jane Maginot, the extension's urban stormwater educator, said in a news release.
"Whatever you see in the street -- cigarette butts, leaking oil, antifreeze, pet wastes -- all of those pollutants, plus whatever the water picks up as it washes across parking lots and roadways, goes directly in its untreated state straight into our local streams and drinking water sources," Maginot added.
Existing murals depict butterflies, fish, local landmarks and messages that stormwater drains into area waterways.
Locations to be painted in 2015 include storm drains near the 21c Museum Hotel, Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce building, Bud Walton Arena and Jones Center.
Artists must apply and include a sketch of their design by Feb. 4, according to a news release. Applications can be found at nwaupstreamart.com.
A grant from the Arkansas Arts Council will provide $400 to each artist who is selected.
For more information, contact Maginot at 479-684-9145 or [email protected].
NW News on 12/28/2014