Deadline approaches for Neighbor Appreciation Day art contest entries

Seattle K-12 students have only until Friday, December 7, to enter the Neighbor Appreciation Day art contest sponsored by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and SAFECO. The contest will identify a special drawing that portrays caring neighbors that will be featured on 17,000 Neighbor Appreciation Day greeting cards early next year.

The eighth annual Neighbor Appreciation Day is February 9, 2002. It is a day when Seattle neighborhoods organize award ceremonies, block parties, potluck dinners, open houses, work parties, and other events.

"The idea is to recognize caring neighbors and help neighbors get to know each other better," said Department of Neighborhoods spokesperson Irene Stewart. "That's why we make free 'Thank you, neighbor!' greeting cards available. Folks use them to acknowledge the ways in which their neighbors make Seattle a great place to live, work, and play."

Images from previous years' cards include people chatting and sharing produce over a backyard fence, holding hands, and sharing a meal, as well as well-known scenes from Seattle neighborhoods. Last year's winner and other top entries are posted at www.cityofseattle.net/don/apday/ArtWin.htm on the Web.

The contest is open to K-12 public and private school students who are Seattle residents. Drawings or other artwork that can be printed should be bright and colorful. The optimal size is an 8x11-inch rectangle (slightly narrower than a standard sheet of paper). The selected artwork will appear on the cover and the artist's name will be on the back of 17,000 cards. In addition to publication, the winning artist will receive a $100 award. Second and third prizes of $50 and $25 will also be awarded. These winners and 10 runners-up will have their artwork exhibited in public and published on the Web for the coming year.

Entries should be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 7, to the Department of Neighborhoods, 700 3rd Avenue, Suite 400, Seattle WA 98104-1848, or to any of 13 Neighborhood Service Centers.

For more information about the Neighbor Appreciation Day art contest or other events, call Irene Stewart, Department of Neighborhoods, at (206) 615-0950, send e-mail to irene.stewart@ci.seattle.wa.us, or go to www.cityofseattle.net/don/apday/ on the Web.