News and Stories

Artists of all kinds are needed to participate in the 6^th Annual Rain Barrel Art Project, hosted by the Regional Stormwater Collaborative and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. This joint effort continues to educate the community about water conservation and pollution caused by storm water runoff. A great way to reduce that runoff is to harness rainwater in your very own rain barrel. Typically, rain barrels are a drab color, but with the beautiful talent and touch of artists, they come alive with scenes of nature, wildlife, Cincinnati, and many other designs, making them much more appealing to install on the side of your home. Utilizing a rain barrel could save a homeowner up to 1,000 gallons of water in just one summer.

Artists, including students and seasoned professionals may submit their artwork designs for consideration by January 22, 2018, through an online form at www.savelocalwaters.org where additional instructions and submittal tips can be found. The top 50 designs will be selected and announced at the end of January. Artists whose designs are selected will be asked to attend an artist workshop on Feb. 10, 2018 to pick up their rain barrels provided by the Metropolitan Sewer District and learn techniques for applying their design and bringing their artwork to life. The completed barrels will be displayed at our Go Green Garden Exhibit during the month of April 2018. We are thrilled to be hosting the rain barrel event once again. As the Greenest Zoo in America, we are always looking for ways to inspire our community to take action that can impact the environment in positive ways.

The grand finale to the event is the Rain Barrel Benefit Auction on April 19^th, 2018. The painted rain barrels will be auctioned during our 9^th Annual Party for the Planet Earth Day Celebration. Proceeds from the auction will be split between the Zoo and the Regional Storm Water Collaborative to further more conservation education and awareness. An online auction will begin on April 9 and last through the Party for the Planet event on the 19^th.

For more information regarding the Rain Barrel Art Project or SaveLocalWaters.org, contact John Nelson, Public Relations Specialist, at (513) 772-7645 or visit the website at: http://www.savelocalwaters.org/