(Submitted Photo)

NORWICH – Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival organizers and Golden Artist Colors invite all Chenango County high school-aged students, including public, private or homeschooled (age equivalent) to enter the 2nd annual “Art Can Change the World,” contest that will lead to a winner’s artwork adorning a billboard on Route 12 from July through October in helping promote the 26th annual Colorscape this September.

The Billboard Challenge is a collaboration between Golden Artist Colors and Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival. BOCES Arts in Education Coordinator Jessica Dakosty is helping Golden and Colorscape reach out to the county's art coordinators to encourage high school art teachers to either incorporate the challenge within their curriculum or encourage their art students to independently create an original design using any media. The image will be judged by a jury of professional artists and art educators and $250 in prizes from Golden Artist Colors will be awarded to the top five images that best depict the theme: "Art Can Change the World.” Last year, Colorscape organizers awarded a total of $1,250 in prize money to five finalists carefully chosen from 41 creative submissions.

Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival Board President Melissa deCordova said, “We look forward to being inspired again this year by students who take the challenge. What a wonderful opportunity to broadcast your own opinion about how art can change the world! We are also very appreciative of this and all sponsorship activities and volunteerism so generously donated to Colorscape by Golden Artist Colors.”