ARTWORK WILL HELP DESIGN-A-BUS
December 14, 2020. Louisville, KY. – If you know a young artist, their work could decorate a TARC bus that will debut next spring as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. TARC and the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Foundation are joining forces and merging their annual art competitions for the first time, as part of a special partnership in 2021. They are now taking submissions from students in grades K-12. Winning entrants will be recognized in various ways. Top winners from each category will be displayed on a TARC bus next spring.
“Every year we are amazed by all the creative submissions and talent we see from children of all ages,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. “This new partnership with TARC will help us to honor these gifted students in a whole new way in 2021.”
Traditionally, the Student Art Contest is centered around the Derby Festival and its events, but the theme of this year’s competition emphasizes a broader message of hope. Students are asked to reflect on the challenges they’ve faced in 2020 and the changes in their day-to-day life; choose a word using the prefix “Re” (e.g. Re-imagine, Re-start, Re-build, Re-cover, Re-birth, Re-organize, Re-connect, Re-unite, etc.); and then create an image based on that word. The goal is that each artwork will share a message of optimism for the future. (For example: Re-imagine favorite Derby Festival Events, Re-connect with friends, Re-build the community.)
“This pandemic has asked us all to react in different ways,” said Carrie Butler, Executive Director of TARC. “I am excited to see the creativity of this year’s Design-A-Bus contest and to have inspirational artwork from students across our region on display for our community to see each day.”
TARC joins The Fillie’s Inc., as a Presenting Sponsor of the Student Art Contest. It is open to public, private and parochial school students in all Kentucky and Southern Indiana counties. Students who are not enrolled in art classes at their school may also create artwork at home, but entries must still follow all contest criteria.
More information on the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation Student Art Contest featuring TARC’s Design-a-Bus can be found online at KDF.org or ridetarc.org. Artwork will be accepted virtually via email at designabus@ridetarc.org from February 1 – March 1, 2021 OR in person drop off at TARC or KDF locations. Artwork is due by March 1, 2021.
About KDFF
The Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, a 501 C 3 not-for-profit charity, receives and manages charitable contributions on behalf of the Kentucky Derby Festival, Inc., its supporters and the general public. The Foundation preserves the Festival’s impact on the community by developing projects that highlight the Festival’s influence on the area’s cultural heritage. It works to further the Festival’s educational and charitable mission through exhibitions and performances.
About TARC (Contact: Eric King, O. (502) 561.5115 or C. (502) 338.1516, eking@ridetarc.org)
The Transit Authority of River City (TARC) connects real people to real opportunities by providing safe, accessible, and inclusive mobility solutions. TARC is critical to the daily function of Greater Louisville. We move the workforce of today and tomorrow. With most trips taken for work and school, TARC is crucial in delivering a qualified workforce to employers and getting students to class. We Move the City Forward. TARC and its more than 600 employees implement transportation opportunities that enhance the social, economic, and environmental well-being of Greater Louisville. We connect residents and visitors to the region with 102 paratransit vehicles and 227 buses serving multiple routes throughout Greater Louisville, including Southern Indiana.
About The Fillies Inc.,
Founded in 1959, The Fillies, Inc. is a non-profit organization with 250 community volunteers. In addition to sponsoring and supporting various Derby Festival events and programs, the women of the Fillies oversee the Royal Court and produce the annual gala Fillies Derby Ball.
