DIVE IN and get creative!

February 02, 2023| Arts & Culture, Events

By: Sheri Salamanca and Linda Karpiak

Are you a creative student in Grades 1-12?  If so, we invite you to enter our student art contest highlighting the beauty and importance of New Jersey’s largest lake. The theme is “All Things Lake Hopatcong”. Entries can include your favorite lake experience, natural beauty, wildlife, history/culture, or actions that help keep the lake clean and healthy.    

Drawings, paintings, pastels, printmaking, and computer-aided designs will be accepted and judged on criteria such as originality, creativity, and execution. There will be one first place winner and one second place winner per group (Grades 1-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12). First place winners will receive a $100 cash prize, while second place winners will receive a $25 gift card to Michaels arts and crafts store.

Winners will be recognized at the Lake Hopatcong Foundation Annual Meeting on the evening of June 8, 2023. All submitted artwork will be exhibited on June 8 and will remain on display at the Lake Hopatcong Foundation Environmental & Cultural Center through the end of the month.

Students who would like to enter the contest should download the entry form below and mail it with their artwork to the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, 125 Landing Road, Landing, NJ 07850. Entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2023.

So, grab those art supplies, DIVE IN, and get creative!

Art Contest Entry Form

Questions? Contact artcontest@lakehopatcongfoundation.org

Thank you local businesses Ice Factory and Station Hardware for sponsoring this contest. If your business would like to help underwrite and present a prize, please give us a call at 973-663-2500 or email caitlin@lakehopatcongfoundation.org

Contest Theme

ALL THINGS LAKE HOPATCONG!

Examples for inspiration

• Favorite lake experience - boating, fishing, swimming, a field trip
• Healthy environment = healthy lake - actions to keep Lake Hopatcong healthy, like installing a rain garden
• Wildlife - eagles, herons, largemouth bass, mink, or other wildlife that live in or around the lake
• Natural beauty - landscape, sunrise, sunset, shorelines, trees
• History/culture - historic sites or people connected to the lake, like the Lake Hopatcong Train Station, Miss Lotta Crabtree, Hudson Maxim

Submission Categories

Students may submit in one of the following categories - Grades  1-2,  3-5,  6-8,  9-12

Submission Deadline

Submissions must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2023

Eligibility & Submission 

• The contest is open to all students in Grades 1 through 12.
• Students may submit within the following four categories: Grades 1-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12.
• One original piece of artwork based on the contest theme of “ALL THINGS LAKE HOPATCONG” may be submitted per student.
• Two-dimensional artwork only. Artwork must be completed on 8.5" x 11" paper (landscape or portrait).
• The following mediums are welcome: drawing, painting, pastels, printmaking, or computer-aided design. Photography and photo collage will not be accepted.
• All submitted artwork must be accompanied by a fully completed and legible entry form.
• Submissions must be mailed to the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, 125 Landing Road, Landing, NJ 07850, and postmarked no later than May 1, 2023.
• Only submissions following these guidelines will be judged.

Awards & Exhibit

• Artwork will be judged by a committee of Lake Hopatcong Foundation staff and volunteers. Winners will 
• be chosen at the sole discretion of the judges on criteria such as originality, creativity, and execution.
• A first and second place winner will be chosen in each category. 
• Each first place winner will receive $100 in cash. Each second place winner will receive a $25 Michaels arts 
• and crafts store gift card. 
• Winners will be notified by email by May 12, 2023.
• An awards ceremony and exhibit of all entries will be held at the Lake Hopatcong Foundation Environmental 
• & Cultural Center in Landing on the evening of June 8, 2023. The exhibit will remain on display through the 
• end of June. 

Terms & Conditions

The student and parent/guardian understand, that as a condition of participation in the Lake Hopatcong Foundation “Dive in and get creative!” student art contest, they are granting the Lake Hopatcong Foundation permission to display the student’s artwork; to photograph, film, or otherwise record the student’s artwork; and, to reproduce the student’s artwork online or on printed materials. Artist will be credited using first name and age wherever practical and possible.  

Support

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the following businesses and individuals for supporting this contest: Art Contest Committee Members Linda Karpiak and Sheri Salamanca, Station Hardware, Ice Factory, and Novartis.