An art contest for high-school age kids will be held.
RUMFORD – Art will decorate the sidewalks of Congress Street during the Moontide Water Festival this year, and there will actually be some water in the celebration, following two approvals given by selectmen Thursday night.
Lem Cissel, a festival committee member and owner of Pennacook Art Center, is organizing a sidewalk art contest for high-school-age students on at least 10, 4-by-4-foot sections of Congress Street sidewalks.
All works will be created in colored chalk.
“I’m sure it will bring a lot of interest to the town,” said Cissel.
The Pennacook Art Center, scheduled to open later in the spring, will provide cash prizes for first through fifth places, with sums ranging from $25 to $150. The theme will be in line with the July 4th festivities – patriotism.
Mountain Valley High School art students are planning to participate in the art contest. Cissel also plans to invite Dirigo High School art students.
“It’s a chance for other people to see our works,” said MVHS student Selene Burt.
“This is a great opportunity to get together and to show stuff and be seen,” said Selectman Jolene Lovejoy.
Cissel also told the board of plans to set up a sprinkler in the middle of Congress Street that will allow children of all ages to romp through.
“Kids can run in and out of the sprinklers,” he said, adding that July 4th is usually hot and the water spray may be a welcome addition to the downtown area during the festivities.
He will take responsibility for cleaning up both the chalk art contest and the sprinklers at the end of the day, he said.
The Moontide Water Festival runs from July 1 through fireworks on July 4th.
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