Street Painting Festival Oct. 6 and 7 at Roane State

Hey artists, it’s time to “talk the talk, then chalk the walk.”

And for you folks who care about educating our future workforce and growing the local economy, it’s time to write checks for chalk art to help make our workforce smart.

Artists and sponsors are needed for the 13th annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival, which will be held the weekend of Oct. 6-7 at the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College on Briarcliff Road.

The Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, which organizes and sponsors the annual festival, urges artists of all ages and abilities to paint Roane State sidewalks for free with chalks of many colors. The club suggests that artists invite their artistic friends to join in the fun.

Every sponsor of a sidewalk square for an artist to chalk will contribute to scholarships for Roane State students. Each painted square is valued at $100.

“Without scholarships many students would not be at Roane State obtaining the special skills they need to get jobs and help the workforce,” said Melinda Hillman, co-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.

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.

Already Chuck’s Car Care, owned by City Councilman and Rotarian Chuck Hope, has signed up as major sponsors.

Please write your check to Roane State Foundation and designate it “Street Painting Festival.” Mail or deliver your check to the Roane State Community College, Oak Ridge Campus, Administrative Office, 701 Briarcliff Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

Over the past 12 years, the Street Painting Festival has contributed over $210,000 to Roane State scholarships, said Mary Jane White, president of the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge.

The popular fundraising event, which is free to the public, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, and from noon until 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7.

The art must be completed at 3 p.m. Sunday so it can be judged by 5 p.m. Sunday when artist awards will be announced.

First-place winners in individual, team, amateur and professional categories, and the People’s Choice Award winner(s), will each receive a $50 cash prize. All winners will be honored at a free lunch in late October during a Rotary club meeting.

During the October weekend as the paintings are completed, musicians will perform, refreshments will be available, and activities for children will be under way.

For more information, including registration and donation forms to print out, and a slide show of past winning chalk paintings, visit the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge’s http://streetpaintingfestival.info website.

If you have questions, please call Chelsea Crawford at (865) 438-5508 or e-mail her at [email protected].