Design a postcard to celebrate Akron’s diversity
— The Global Village Festival of Greater Akron is seeking young artists to design a postcard honoring this year’s theme: Heirloom Gardens. The contest is open to any Summit County student in grades K through 5.
Entries must be received by July 31. Any entries received past this date will be displayed at the festival but not considered in the judging process.
“Art can help us gain deeper understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural perspectives,” Helena Larios, the festival’s managing director, said. “Allowing youth to interpret our theme through their lens and life experiences helps them to safely share perspective and allows others to understand the pulse of our current and future communities. Plus, it’s just plain fun, especially since many have been helping in the community gardens around the city.”
Festival organizers chose the Heirloom Gardens theme to celebrate the ingredients and recipes that contribute to Greater Akron’s international and ethnic diversity. Festival volunteers have started working together, planting plots of fruits and vegetables, and sharing family stories and recipes, in a number of community gardens.
Postcard entries must be submitted on a 4-by-6-inch piece of paper (a large index card, for example), with one-dimensional art on one side of the paper or by using the space available on the submission form.
Winners of the postcard contest will be announced at the family-friendly Global Village Festival Sept. 13 at Lock 3 Park in downtown Akron. All participants will receive a certificate of participation. One participant will be awarded a $50 gift card and a cultural gift. His or her work will also be featured in the Global Village Festival of Greater Akron’s Passport program, a directory booklet of the day’s events and of diversity friendly employers, sponsors and community supporters. Five Honorable Mentions will also be awarded a cultural gift.
For more information and submission details, visit www.akrongvf.org/contest.htm or email the Children’s Activities Team at [email protected].
Beginning in 2010, the Global Village Festival is the result of several community leaders and culturally focused community organizations that discussed the importance of bringing greater awareness of the value and richness of our local diversity. The focus was to highlight the international and ethnic diversity of Akron as an important asset that can enrich and enlarge our collective world view.