The winners’ pot has sweetened in the city’s Storm Drain Art Contest. Artists have until Oct. 5 to enter the competition. 

A storm drain art contest is being offered to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the community’s rivers, stream habitat and aquatic wildlife. Two winners will be allowed to construct their masterpieces on Morford Street.

McMinnville Community Development Department has partnered with Main Street McMinnville to offer a stipend to the two winners. Thanks to generous donations from Pure Wealth Partners, The Doodle Fish Studio and TOPZ, each winner will receive a $75 stipend, a TOPZ t-shirt, and $25 TOPZ gift card for their project. In light of this generosity, the city is extending the contest entry deadline from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5. 

Anyone age 12 and up can submit a drawing of their design by Oct. 5 for a chance +to paint their masterpiece on a storm drain in downtown McMinnville. The two drains to be painted are located on East Morford Street – one in front of the Warren County Furniture Building and the other is in front of the Pure Oil Building now home to Pure Wealth Partners. 

To enter the contest, send a color sketch of the proposed artwork around a storm drain via email (lbussell@mcminnvilletn.gov) or mail to 1266 Belmont Drive, McMinnville, TN 37110. Please include name, phone number and email. Text within the artwork is encouraged to convey an educational message. 

“The Storm Drain Art Contest celebrates our 120 miles of local waterways and the efforts taken by the city to keep its local rivers, wetlands, streams, and ponds clean, thriving ecosystems, free of pollutants and trash,” said Katie Kemezis, planner within Community Development Department. 

Rules for

the winners:

• Artwork may be on the street, the sidewalk, or both. But you may not paint brick sidewalk.

• Only brushes may be used. No spraying of paint is permitted due to proximity to storm drain.

• Artists must take care to not allow paint or brush rinse water to go down the storm drain.

• Artists must use the traffic paint provided - each artist will receive one quart each of red, yellow, blue, white and black that may be mixed to create an individual palette. Additional paint will be provided.

• Storm drains will be cleaned before painting commences. If area should become dirty again, you may only use a broom or plain water. No soap may be allowed down the storm drain.

• Traffic cones will be on site and a safety vest will be provided. 

• Artwork should be completed during the month of October.