Jan. 15, 2009 – Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN VI) is extending the entry deadline to Feb. 13 for its poster contest, according to a press relase from Media Outreach Chairman Lou Lambert. "The intitial deadline of Jan. 15 was extended because we wanted to give the students on all three islands additional time to work on their art work due to all of the holiday activity," he said.
PSN wants students to help raise awareness about the impact of gun violence in the U.S. Virgin Islands by participating in its "Draw Against Gun Violence II" poster contest. "Last year's contest was extremely successful," said Lou Lambert. "The art work was very creative, and the sheer number of students who entered convinced the PSN board to continue promoting this project that spreads the message of anti-gun violence through art."
In its on-going effort to create an environment that improves the safety and security of all Virgin Islanders, Project Safe Neighborhoods encourages students registered in grades 1-12 to submit original works of art that contain a message against gun crime — for example, "hard time for gun crime," "stop gun violence," "put the guns down," "federal time for gun crime," or a similar message.
The art can be drawings, paintings or computer graphics done in conjunction with school art programs or on a student's own. They will be judged on originality, creativity, concept and layout. Judging will be by members of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and the Ad Club of the Virgin Islands. Nine winners in total will be chosen, three each in these categories: elementary school, grades 1-5; middle school, grades 6-8; and high school, grades 9-12.
The first 100 entrants will receive a PSN backpack, and winners will receive a PSN backpack plus an Apple I-pod Touch, valued at approximately $300. The winning artwork will be displayed on posters at businesses, schools and public outlets throughout the USVI and will be forwarded to Project Safe Neighborhoods headquarters in Washington, DC. Entry forms and contest rules are available at public and private schools in the territory and online.
This is an opportunity to raise awareness among the youth in the community who can then help raise public awareness about how gun violence affects us all.
For more information, log on to www.drawagainstgunviolence.com, or www.psnvi.com. The deadline for entries is Feb. 13, and there is no fee for entering the contest.
