Purpose of Artwork:
The City of Clemson’s storm drainage system leads directly to Lake Hartwell. The purpose of this program is to draw attention to the storm drainage system and to educate the public on the connection between stormwater runoff into Lake Hartwell. These paintings are intended to bring awareness to potential pollutants such as litter, debris, and hazardous chemicals entering the storm drainage system. Artists are asked to propose a design for a storm drain and the surrounding street.

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Location:
The storm drains are located around Catherine A Smith Plaza along Strode Circle,
Shorecrest Drive and Edgewood Ave. A location map is available for download.

Timeline:

February 6: Project announcement
March 6: Submission deadline
March 18: 12 Artists with selected designs are notified
Week of April 13: Two days of storm drain painting (weather permitting)
 

​Design Details:
The purpose of the design should focus on the protection of our water ecosystem. Or, the design can communicate how the storm drain leads directly to Lake Hartwell and should warn against undesirable waste going into the storm drain, including litter, pet waste, oil, chemicals, and yard waste.

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Submitted designs must be completed and in color. Artists are encouraged to create simple clean design themes with solid color palettes and limited text. Only one entry per artist. Designs should include the entire top portion of the 13 ft x 5 ft storm drain with a 36 inch – 42-inch metal ring in diameter. There is one storm drain that is 4 ft x 4 ft with no metal ring.

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Optional: You can extend the design into a portion of the street. The length needs to be the length of the storm drain and may extend out 6 inches. The curb is 6 inches high.
 

Painting the adjacent sidewalk will not be allowed. Artists are asked not to include any copyright characters or designs in their design (e.g., Disney characters, etc.). All designs should be original and family friendly.

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Benjamin Moore AURA ® Waterborne exterior paint flat finish 629 will be provided. It can be mixed with Benjamin’s Moore’s 3,500 colors. Please limit color selection to four or five choices.

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Each of the selected artists will receive a $200 stipend for their design and painting. Storm drains will be prepped for painting by City staff and after painting the design will receive a sealant. Please note, there is a two-year expectancy for the artwork. After the two years, the storm drain will be prepped for the next art installation.

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Application Process:

Digital Submissions Only. Designs must be submitted by 5 p.m. on March 6, 2026 to Joan Rossini at jrossini@cityofclemson.org. The following information must be included for your submission to be considered:

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• Name.

•Email.
•Phone number.
• Attach Design as a JPG or PNG.
• Short statement about inspiration for design.

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Judging/Awards Criteria:

​The design submissions will be juried by a mix of community members and Utilities staff. Selection criteria will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

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Appropriateness—How is the content or obvious symbolism of the proposed piece of artwork appropriate for those who will view the art, and is it within the context of the theme?

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Execution—Ability to competently execute the proposed design on the medium of concrete.

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