This Valentine’s Day, it’s time again to “Love Our Rivers, Love Our Drains.”
Fort Wayne City Utilities news release:
Calling All Artists to “LOVE R RIVERS”
Clean Drains’ Murals Are Back; More Chances to Create, Protect WaterwaysFort Wayne, Indiana (February 13, 2025) – This Valentine’s Day, it’s time again to “Love Our Rivers, Love Our Drains.” Clean Drains Fort Wayne: Be River SmART invites local creatives to spread a little brush love on our humble storm drains — the gateways to our rivers. 2025 brings more opportunities to design storm drain murals and remind the community: Only Rain in the Drain!
City Utilities, in collaboration with Art This Way and Downtown Fort Wayne, celebrates year five of the Clean Drains Fort Wayne initiative with renewed energy and new locations. Throughout the life of the project, Clean Drains’ partners have painted vibrant public art encouraging all of us to keep trash, chemicals and debris out of our storm drains, and in turn, to stop those pollutants from getting into our rivers.
Artists, Will You Be Ours?
What We Need: Original designs that reflect the theme “Only Rain in the Drain”
Who Can Apply: Artists of all levels. If you’ve got talent and passion, we want to see your work!
Application: Go to https://www.artthiswayfw.com/artist-call/ for design guidelines and submission details.
Submission Deadline: Application closes on May 18, 2025.
Final Selections by the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission: June 4, 2025
Mural Creation: August 16-24, 2025Express your love for our rivers with your unique Valentine to our precious natural river wonders and their sidekick storm drains. Submit your design today and Be River SmArt!
About Clean Drains: Be River SmART
Clean Drains: Be River SmART is a community-driven campaign using public art to educate and inspire people to protect local waterways from pollution. The award-winning project has created more than 100 storm drain murals in its first four years promoting the simple message of “Only Rain in the Drain.”Additionally, thousands of storm drains were cleaned and marked by volunteers in neighborhoods across the community. Neighborhood teams and individuals who want to help and protect our rivers in 2025 can contact City Utilities at cityutilities1@cityoffortwayne.org or visit our website.
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