A winning chalk painting at the 14th annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival, held in October 2014 at the Oak Ridge Branch Campus of Roane State Community College. (Submitted photo)
Do you enjoy drawing upon your artistic skills as you sketch a face, animal, or colorful scene? Then you might like “painting” pictures in chalk on a sidewalk.
You are invited to sign up as an artist for the 16th annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival. The festival showcases the talents of artists of all ages and provides a fun time for the community.
This popular event will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 1, on the sidewalks of the Oak Ridge Branch Campus of Roane State Community College. (The rain day will be Sunday.) Artists may start their chalk paintings on Friday afternoon, September 30.
The art must be completed at 4 p.m. Saturday, October 1, so it can be judged before 6 p.m., when artist awards will be announced. If you win a first prize or the People’s Choice Award, you will receive a $50 cash award as well as recognition.
The festival is organized and hosted by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge. Its purpose is to raise funds for scholarships for students at Roane State Community College.
“The festival also reflects Rotary’s belief that supporting our youth and future leaders will create positive and lasting changes in their lives, our community and the world,” said Jenifer Campbell, president of the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge.
These students graduated from high school a few years ago, so they are not eligible for scholarships provided by the state of Tennessee. The festival has raised more than $210,000 over the past 15 years for 100 scholarships.
“These scholarships have made a huge difference in the lives of adults who could not otherwise have afforded a college education,” said Melinda Hillman, chair of the Rotary club’s Street Painting Festival committee, former executive director of the Roane State Foundation, and vice president of RSCC’s Oak Ridge and satellite campuses.
“The festival funds have contributed to educating East Tennessee’s future work force, helping to attract new businesses and improving the local economy,” said Bill Martin, past president of the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge who initiated the organization of the first Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival in 2000.
The festival raises scholarship funds through sponsors—people who “buy” sidewalk squares that the artists paint with colored chalk or support a larger feature such as the Children’s Tent.
Sponsors are needed. Corporate levels of support are Platinum Sponsor—$10,000; Gold Sponsor—$5,000; Silver Sponsor—$2,500; Bronze Sponsor—$1,000; Small Business Sponsor—$200 and up; and Individual Sponsor—$100 and up. Sponsors will be recognized publicly.
If you are interested in being a sponsor, call Melinda Hillman at (865) 481-2001., ext. 2301, or e-mail her at hillmanmk@roanestate.edu. Checks should be written to the Roane State Foundation.
Professional and amateur artists of all ages and teams of artists from schools and various youth organizations are encouraged to participate in the festival. Chalk and other art supplies will be provided for free. The public is invited to view and photograph the “chalk paintings” and the artists at work.
During the festival day music will be performed, refreshments will be available for sale at the Roane State cafeteria, and activities for children will be under way.
To view previous winning paintings and get the latest details about the festival, including downloadable artist and sponsor forms, please visit the Street Painting Festival website at http://www.roanestate.edu/pages/streetpaintingfestival/.
Artist registration and sponsor forms can be picked up at the Oak Ridge Branch Campus of Roane State Community College at 701 Briarcliff Avenue.
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