HELENA-WEST HELENA -- The Delta Cultural Center is re-introducing a once-popular project to encourage the artistic endeavors of Delta youths and stimulate their interest in the cultural attributes of the Delta.

The Blues Heritage Youth Art Competition asks the region’s young artists to focus their energies and imaginations on the theme of “Cradle of the Blues” and send the resulting images to the DCC in Helena in the spring of 2008. Entries will be judged and an exhibition and reception will be held in conjunction with Helena’s well-known Delta Blues and Heritage Festival in October 2008.

“In the past, the DCC sponsored a popular annual art contest that fell to the wayside,” explained Jack Myers, educational coordinator. “Today, with gracious sponsorship from the Pillow Clinic in Helena-West Helena, we are resurrecting that project.”

One aspect of this reawakening is the introduction of cash prizes for participating young artists ($50 for the kindergarten through fifth grade winner; $100 for the sixth through ninth grade winner; and $250 for the sophomore through senior division winner), as well as a small reward to aid their teachers ($25 for classroom use to the instructors of those students whose works are selected).

“The benefits to students and their school districts will go beyond the monetary,” Myers said. “We plan for our marketing campaign to include at least one poster reproduction of winning artwork, as well as news releases, and a reception and exhibit to be held in conjunction with the 2008 Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival.”

This contest will be open to all area public and private schools, as well as home-schoolers.

Student artists are asked to create a piece of artwork on posterboard, art paper, or canvas no larger than a standard posterboard.

The theme, “Cradle of the Blues,” is a reflection of the fact that the Delta is often referred to as the cradle of blues music, Myers pointed out.

The medium utilized will be the artist’s choice. The name of artists, their ages, grade levels, school district, their teacher, and town of residency should be recorded on the back of their artwork.

The deadline for entries is May 1, 2008. The art will be judged in June 2008, and school districts will be informed of winning entries. Selected entries will be exhibited at the Delta Cultural Center in October 2008. Winning student artists will be encouraged to attend a reception to be held during that time at which the Pillow Clinic will present cash awards.

“Dr. Ned Pillow and the Pillow Clinic volunteered to provide financial incentives for the young artists as soon as they were made aware of the project,” Myers said. “They take a genuine interest in the Delta and its young people and were excited to be made aware of a project that would aid the talented, gifted youths with whom they come in contact on a daily basis.”

Student artwork in the competition becomes the property of the DCC.

Gallery hours at the DCC Visitors Center at 141 Cherry Street and the nearby DCC Depot at 95 Missouri Street are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturday. “King Biscuit Time,” the nation’s longest-running blues radio program, is hosted each weekday at the DCC Visitor’s Center by “Sunshine” Sonny Payne, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. “Delta Sounds,” hosted by DCC Assistant Director Terry Buckalew and Payne, is broadcast each Friday at 1 to 1:30 p.m.

For more information, interested persons can call the Delta Cultural Center at (870)-338-4350 or toll free at (800)-358-0972 or visit the DCC online at www.deltaculturalcenter.com.

The Delta Cultural Center shares the vision of all seven agencies of the Department of Arkansas Heritage – to preserve and promote Arkansas heritage as a source of pride and satisfaction. Other agencies within the department are the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the Old State House Museum, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, the Arkansas Arts Council, and the Natural Heritage Commission.

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