Recycled Art Contest

Contest Details

In honor of America Recycles Day, the James City Clean County Commission is hosting a Recycled Art Contest. The Recycled Art Contest is open to K-12 grade students attending a WJCC school, a private school in James City County or homeschooled youths residing in James City County.

These are the primary goals of the Recycled Art Contest:

  • Encouraging and inspiring youth to creatively express through visual art, specifically sculpture;
  • Spotlighting the incredible skill and talent of youth artists and providing a space for young people to express the importance of waste reduction and recycling;
  • Growing awareness of the need to reduce our consumption and prevent littering. 

How to submit

Participants must fill out the Recycled Art Contest Submission Form  by Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. EST. Submission must include artist name, at least 4 photos of the art piece (front, back, each side), piece name and a brief description of the art piece.

Theme

While the theme may be a broader sustainability topic, it should relate to waste, recycling or litter. 

Contest rules

Submissions that do not meet these requirements will not be considered.

  • Artists must be a current school student in either a WJCC school or private school located in James City County or the City of Williamsburg. If homeschooled, artists must live within James City County. 
  • The art piece can be an individual or group project. Each participant may contribute to only one art project submission, whether it is a group project or an individual submission.
  • The art piece must be a 3D sculpture. Entry dimensions may be no larger than 60” high x 36” wide x 24” deep, with a maximum weight of 50 pounds. Entry must be ready to display by wall mount, plinth, free standing, etc.
  • All projects should be safe to handle (no hazards, etc.) and be constructed with materials that have been carefully cleaned. 
  • Entries must contain 100% recycled, recovered, reused, salvaged or collected litter materials with the exception of paints, dyes, adhesives, canvas and mounting hardware. 
  • Entries may contain any recycled material as art medium, with the exception of food matter.  
  • All art pieces must be socially and culturally appropriate.
  • All art pieces must be original work constructed within the last six months. 

Prizes

Two winners will be selected from each age group (elementary, middle and high school). 

  • Each winner will be presented their certificate award at the Board of Supervisor meeting in November, where they will be invited to take a photograph with the Board and the Clean County Commission. 
  • Winning art pieces will be displayed at the James City County Library during the week of America Recycles Day (Nov. 13-17), then displayed at the Repair Fair & Recycling Expo on Nov. 18 (Warhill High School). After Nov. 18 artists may reclaim their pieces.
  • Winners will also have their art pieces, artist bios and piece descriptions highlighted on the JCC  Environmental Sustainability newsletter All Hands on Deck as well as the County’s Facebook page.
  • Winners will receive a goodie bag of sustainable gifts. 

Judging criteria

Winning submissions will be scored based on the following criteria:

  • Originality/creativity
  • Theme
  • Material usage

Winner Notification

Art pieces will be evaluated on Thursday, Nov. 2 and winners will be notified on Friday, Nov. 3. Winners will be asked to drop off their art piece to the James City County Library (7770 Croaker Road) by no later than Thursday Nov. 9 by 4 p.m. If winners are unable to drop off their art, special arrangements can be made for pick up from their school or home.