Scenic Hudson Valley-wide Art Contest for Kids and Teens

Enter today through Monday, April 30 -- for prizes in five age groups

(HUDSON VALLEY) - Scenic Hudson is putting the word out to young artists throughout the valley to join a fun art contest especially created for children and teens. The contest is part of Art Year, a series of Scenic Hudson events during a 12-month celebration of art that connects New Yorkers to the natural world.

HOW, WHEN AND WHAT KIND OF ART TO ENTER
Interested participants can now register online at www.scenichudson.org to submit an artistic rendering of a Scenic Hudson park or other Hudson River scene. Monday, April 30, is the deadline for submissions. The Web site has details about contest rules and prizes. Photography, painting, sculptures, sketches, etc. are all acceptable mediums. Completed artwork can be submitted in the form of a digital scan or photograph and will be featured in a special online art gallery on Scenic Hudson's Web site.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED AND PRIZES AWARDED AT SPECIAL EVENT
All participants and their families and friends are invited to Scenic Hudson's annual River Champion Reception, on Sunday, May 20, where contest winners will be determined. The reception will be held at a spectacular Poughkeepsie riverfront location to be announced later. Grouped by five different age ranges (pre-K, grades K-2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12), the artwork will be judged by a panel of experts. First, second and third prizes will be awarded at the reception. Prizes will be an assortment of age-appropriate art supplies.

ONLINE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD OPEN TO THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND EVENT
For those artists who are not able to attend this event, a People's Choice vote will occur online for all submitted artwork. People's Choice prizes will be given for each of the five age groups. You don't have to be a participating artist to vote for your People's Choice winners, and votes will be accepted through Friday, May 25. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 30.

"We're greatly excited by the initial interest we've received from local schools, community groups and arts organizations. Scenic Hudson is all about connecting more and more people to the beauty, power and inspiration of the Hudson River, and this contest is a great way for kids and families to get into that experience," said Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson.

"We know there's a wealth of imagination and talent among the kids of the valley, and we want to present a showcase for it. We foresee kids gaining a new sense of pride in their abilities and enjoying being treated like famous artists. The Web site component is really fun because even if you're not a participating artist, you can enjoy the gallery of submissions and even vote for your favorites for the People's Choice winners. We anticipate lots of grandparents and out-of-town relatives will get a kick out of seeing their aspiring artists' works promoted on the Web," added Mr. Sullivan.

TEACHERS EXCITED ABOUT THE CONTEST
"We're a community center in the City of Poughkeepsie, and we offer after-school programs. This contest is just the kind of creative and engaging activity we like," said Kathleen Murphy, deputy director of the Catharine Street Community Center. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to talk with our children about the Hudson River and its history, and to wrap it around the fun of art and a contest."

Marilee Hobbs, who teaches humanities courses at the City of Hudson High School, says the contest will add dimension to a special program she's doing with a neighboring district. "We've received a Teaching the Hudson Valley grant to help expose our students, and their peers at the Catskill High School, to the Hudson River School of Art. In addition to the writing and field trips the kids will do, the chance to show what they've learned in a creative art contest like this is great. We're always looking for diverse ways for students to demonstrate their achievements. These kinds of activities also motivate students to appreciate and care for their community and the broader area," she said.

There also is excitement in Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Poughkeepsie. "This art contest will help our students enhance their appreciation of the Hudson River Valley. The contest also ties in with our study of plants, animals and the earth," said Linda Haenichen, a fourth-grade educator at the school.

In Beacon, Linda J. Houlihan, whose educational motto is "empowering youth through art and education," is glad the contest is happening. The media arts teacher said, "Encouraging children to become more aware of nature fosters active participation in stewardship for the land."

Jean Cendali, who teaches art at the Haldane Elementary School in Cold Spring is enthusiastic about a valley-wide effort to encourage young artists. "I love the idea of viewing children's Hudson River art online. What a great idea."