Mail Art Contest Celebrates Earth Day In Pinellas County

LARGO, FL – Pinellas County has tons of environmental resources that its residents enjoy every day. The UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County is looking for artwork that shows of this love for the area’s natural beauty.

The county’s extension service is celebrating Earth Day this year by hosting the 2016 Earth Day Mail Art competition. Participants can mail in their artistic entries for a chance to have them featured on social media and win prizes.

Contest judges will look for distinctive handmade entries based on the following themes:

• #ToEarthWithLove: Creative art about giving back to Earth by recycling, composting and conserving water
• #LoveTampaBay: Art pieces that express love for Tampa Bay’s waters and wildlife
• #PlasticAware: Visualize how plastics impact the environment, people and/or communities

Entries in each categories will be judged by age group (12 and younger, 13-18, 18 and older). Prizes include a guided hike Weedon Island Preserve, gardening-themed prize packs, energy savings kits, a tour of Pinellas County Solid Waste Facility and more.

To qualify, entries must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 5. All artwork must be original and must not contain reproduction of existing artwork or images. Submit artwork to:

UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County

Earth Day Mail Art Contest

Attention: Trevor Ackerman

12520 Ulmerton Road

Largo, FL 33774

Artists must include their name, e-mail address, phone number, age and category the artwork should be judged in. Winners will be contacted by phone or e-mail by Friday, April 21.

All entries will be posted on the Pinellas Extension Facebook page and automatically entered in the “Facebook Fan Favorite” contest. That winner will receive a special prize as well. The voting for those entries will take place at www.facebook.com/pinellasextension.

For more information about the Mail Art Contest, prize information and additional information about the rules, e-mail Trevor Ackerman at tackerman@pinellascounty.org or visit http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/MailArt.shtml.

Photography provided courtesy of Pinellas County Communications Department