Manhattan Beach: Water Is Life Art Contest For Kids Grades 3-12

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Students in grades 3-12 can participate in West Basin Municipal Water District’s 2021 Water is Life student art contest that launched today.

The annual art contest, intended to foster student creativity and innovation, asks student artists to be creative and inspire their communities to support water conservation as a way of life by creating thought-provoking water-smart pieces of art.

“We encourage 3rd-12th grade students in our local schools to participate in this year’s West Basin art contest,” said West Basin Board President Gloria D. Gray. “Last year, we received about 500 creative entries from students, and we hope to see those numbers go up this year with the added flexibility to submit artwork electronically or through the mail.”

Fifteen student winners [one grand prize winner and four honorable mentions in each elementary, middle, and high school grade category] will be selected by a panel of judges in April. Each winner is awarded a new Apple iPad, with Grand Prize winners additionally receiving a digital stylus pen and $25 Apple Store gift card.

This year’s art contest features a number of updates aimed at boosting program participation, including standardizing the submission paper size and expanding artwork submission options. New, pre-recorded instructional videos will be available on West Basin’s YouTube page to help students understand the art submission process. Teachers can also request a live online art lesson in which a West Basin staff member will provide art tips and techniques for creating an award-winning piece of art.

The contest is a collaborative water education program in partnership between West Basin and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Winning artwork from West Basin’s local contest will advance to Metropolitan’s regional competition and may be featured in the agency’s 2022 student artwork calendar.

Submissions are due via regular mail or email by Friday, March 19, 2021. Program information, including updated guidelines and how to make art lesson reservations, is available at www.westbasin.org/waterislife.

West Basin Municipal Water District is a wholesale water agency that serves nearly one million people in 17 cities, including Manhattan Beach, and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County. West Basin provides imported drinking water, recycled water, and conservation and education programs. Through its Water for Tomorrow Program, West Basin is committed to protecting, diversifying, and securing our water supply for the future while continuing a history of innovation and industry leadership.