Students in Fountain Hills will have the chance to win cash and showcase their art with a contest for the annual Dark Sky Festival in March.

To enter, the student must attend a Fountain Hills School or be a Fountain Hills resident.

Students K-12 can submit drawings or paintings (no digital art) illustrating the comunity’s dark sky.  This year’s theme is “The Night Shift: Critters That Crave the Dark Sky.”

Students can begin their work anytime, at home or as a school assignment, but can only enter one art piece. Entries must be original drawings or paintings.  Sizes can be 8.5” x 11” to 22” x 28”, vertical or horizontal orientation. No matted, mounted or framed submissions will be accepted.  No digital art or A-I generated art will be accepted.

Complete guidelines and entry blanks may be obtained from art teachers at each school. Home schooled students can get more information or entry blanks from peggy.yeargain@gmail.com or cindycarolcouture@hotmail.com.

All artwork must be submitted with an official entry form, signed by the parent or legal guardian and taped to the back.

Grade level prize categories include Kindergarten, 1-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-10 and 11–12. The top 10 pieces from each grade level category will be on display in the Community Center during the week leading to the festival.

Kindergarten winners will receive $25 each for the top three entries. Grades 1-12 first place winners in each category will receive $100, second place $50 and third place $25.  Winners will be notified by email.  Prizes for the top three entries will be awarded at 4 p.m. on the Community Center Ballroom stage during the Dark Sky Festival on Saturday, March 29.  Students will be notified of their top three status prior to the festival but will find out their prize placement during the ceremony.

The deadline to submit artwork to the student’s art teacher, school office, or to Peggy Yeargain or Cindy Couture is Thursday, Feb. 27. The submissions will be picked up the day after the deadline at each Fountain Hills School office, or you may contact Couture or Yeargain to drop them off.  All entries will be returned to the school for pick up or may be picked up from the contest organizers in April.