April 1, 2026 — The City of South Bend is launching a Storm Drain Art Contest to raise awareness about stormwater and water quality through public art. Submissions will be accepted throughout the month of April.
Local artists are invited to create designs that help educate the community about how everyday activities impact our waterways. Stormwater is rain that runs off streets and picks up pollutants along the way. In South Bend, it flows into storm drains on streets and then straight into the St. Joseph River without treatment.
As part of this contest, artists will paint murals around storm drains in downtown South Bend on Michigan Street between Colfax Avenue and Wayne Street. The art will serve as a visible reminder of how pollution enters the stormwater system and encourage simple actions like proper waste disposal and reducing runoff.
For more information, including submission rules and details, visit southbendin.gov/StormDrainArt. Selected designs will be painted during the week of May 31 and completed in time for the June 5 First Fridays event. Selected artists will receive $250 in compensation for their artwork.
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