RICHMOND, Va. — The City of Richmond would like to hear from artists interested in painting downtown storm drains.

The goal of the Storm Drain Art Project is to raise awareness about the importance of clean streets and waterways, a spokeswoman for RVAH2O said.

“Stormwater is our nation’s number-one source of surface water pollution,” Robert Steidel, Director, Department of Public Utilities, City of Richmond, said. “The James River is Richmond’s greatest natural asset, and we hope the Storm Drain Art Project will help citizens visually understand the importance of clean water and the impact of stormwater runoff, because ‘It all drains to the James.'”

The storm drains that will be a part of the art project are along Tredegar Street from the American Civil War Center at Tredegar to Brown’s Island.

“Through an online competition, five local artists will be selected to paint their designs,” RVAH2O advised. “A panel of judges from the Richmond Public Art Commission will judge the entries and select five artists who will be asked to paint storm drains by June 30.”

The deadline to enter is Monday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. Click here for information on how to enter.

“The Storm Drain Art Project will bring an artistic, creative element to a key facet of our watershed management plan, as a means to make citizens aware of the importance of clean water,” Steidel said. “We expect this fun and inspirational project to reach thousands of Richmonders with information and tools so that they can become better stewards of our environment.”