Win $250! Artists invited to submit works for bicycle and pedestrian art contest, thanks to AARP Community Challenge Grant

Here’s a chance to put your artistic skills to good use and have your creation appear in public. The City of Myrtle Beach has received a grant from the AARP Community Challenge to create and display bicycle and pedestrian safety messages at 10 key intersections throughout the city. The contest is for 10 illustrations that convey a Myrtle Beach-related message about bicycle or pedestrian safety, wayfinding or proper social distancing for walkers and bikers.

The AARP grant involves two of the city’s committees. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee will come up with the safety messages, while the Seniors Advisory Committee will sponsor the art contest and select the 10 winning artistic submissions. The safety messages and winning illustrations will be combined into vinyl wraps that will cover the large traffic signal control cabinets at the 10 intersections.

“This art contest and the resulting safety messages that will be seen at key intersections by our riders and walkers is made possible through the generous support of the AARP,” said Mark Kruea, public information officer. “It’s a great way to involve our residents in getting the word out about bicycle and pedestrian safety. The committees are excited to see what our local artists of all ages submit.”

Each winning artist whose work is selected will receive $250 and the honor of having his or her artwork appear in public as part of the safety campaign. Winning artworks will be displayed as described at one of the 10 intersections. Here are the contest rules:

• The entry deadline is Wednesday, September 30, 2020, for the illustration contest. The Seniors Advisory Committee reserves the right to extend the deadline, if needed.
• The contest is open to amateur or professional illustrators who reside in Horry County. Seniors and children are encouraged to participate!
• The artwork will illustrate a bicycle or pedestrian theme, ideally related to Myrtle Beach.
• The entry must be the original creation of the entrant. No reproductions, in whole or in part, of any existing artwork or logo will be accepted.
• Up to two artistic submissions per entrant will be accepted. The artist’s name, address, age and phone number must accompany each submission on a separate piece of paper.
• The artistic illustration must be a finished, color artwork, suitable for translating into a three dimensional design (the four sides of the traffic control box, plus the top).
• Digitally-created artwork is acceptable and must be submitted on a disc or USB drive.
• Submitted illustrations must be of a high-enough quality to convert to camera-ready art without significant alteration or effort.
• Ten winning illustrations will receive $250 each and the honor of being displayed at one of the intersections.
• The winning artworks become the property of the City of Myrtle Beach.
• Non-winning entries can be returned to the artists and will be available for pick-up at the Myrtle Beach City Hall, 937 Broadway. Please indicate whether you want your entry returned, or you may enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return.
• All entries must be delivered to the Myrtle Beach City Hall, 937 Broadway, by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 30, 2020, or mailed to Seniors Advisory Committee Art Contest, City of Myrtle Beach, P. O. Box 2468, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578, with a postmark date no later than September 30, 2020.
• The Seniors Advisory Committee members will judge the entries and select the 10 winning designs for the AARP Community Challenge project.
• Questions? Email info@cityofmyrtlebeach.com or call 843-918-1014.

Here are the 10 intersections where the winning artworks will be displayed, with an accompanying safety message, as a vinyl wrap on a traffic control cabinet (one per intersection).

• Kings Highway and Main Street
• Mr. Joe White Avenue and Oak Street
• Kings Highway and Ninth Avenue North
• Kings Highway and the Myrtle Beach State Park Entrance
• Grissom Parkway and Harrelson Boulevard
• Kings Highway and Farrow Parkway
• Grissom Parkway and 21st Avenue North
• Kings Highway and Third Avenue South
• Kings Highway and Harrelson Boulevard
• Kings Highway and 13th Avenue South.

The finished vinyl wraps with the illustrations and safety messages will be in place no later than December 18.