ART DOING
ITS PART
Mississippi and connecting water bodies face significant litter problems, much of which originate from inland areas. Items like bottles, cigarette butts, straws, and fragmented plastics travel through rivers, streams, and stormwater systems to eventually reach coastal waters, affecting human health, local economies, and aquatic life. Addressing this issue requires a statewide, collaborative approach, involving both inland and coastal communities.
To raise awareness of the connection between local litter and the pollution of our waterways, Art Doing Its Part is a statewide art and slogan competition aimed at personalizing the issue for communities by showcasing litter challenges specific to their regions, illustrating how local actions impact local and distant environments. By fostering a sense of shared responsibility, the contest encourages communities to take pride in their surroundings and actively participate in waste reduction, prevention, and cleanup efforts.
COASTAL REGION SUBMISSION FORM
Each participating high school should select one student artist as their school-wide finalist. Please submit your school's winning artwork, slogan, and statement here by 10/23/26 at 11:59 pm Central Time.
WAMA will choose one winner from the coastal counties to advance as the finalist for our region. Each regional finalist will have their artwork and slogan featured in a statewide marketing campaign and showcased in a traveling art exhibit across the state. Each finalist’s school will have the opportunity to participate in a local cleanup, supporting litter removal and the beautification of their community.
An overall winner for Mississippi will then be selected by a panel of diverse specialists based on three criteria:
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how well the work addresses the issue of litter
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the quality of the composition and how effectively the artistic elements support the theme
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the creativity and originality of the expression or story
The overall winner’s school will receive 10 water refill stations.
