STORM DRAIN ART PROJECT 2025 CALL FOR ARTISTS
The USC Upstate Sustainability Council and the Spartanburg Soil and Water Conservation District
(SSWCD) are implementing another environmental art project centered around local water heritage and
water quality. The Sustainability Council and SSWCD seek design concepts from USC Upstate artists to
enhance selected storm drains for 5 locations on campus. Selected artists will turn their concepts into
reality in the form of small-scale, semi-permanent, outdoor murals that will adorn USC Upstate storm
drains, raising awareness and educating the public about the effects of stormwater runoff on water
quality.
Why Storm Drains?
Storm drains lead directly to our waterways. Each time it rains, trash and pollutants on our streets
are washed into the storm drains and are carried into our creeks, rivers, and lakes. Stormwater pollution
can significantly degrade our fish and wildlife habitat, our drinking water, and recreational
opportunities. By painting USC Upstate storm drains, we are reminding residents that we are all
connected to our creeks, rivers, and lakes.
Locations
USC Upstate Campus (Photos provided below)
1) P. Kathyrn Hicks Visual Arts Center (Gramling Drive), 2) Farmhouse parking lot,
3) Gramling Drive near traffic circle, 4) Arboretum parking lot, 5) University Way near
Peace Pond Park.
Recommended Themes
Stormwater Pollution: Leading source of non-point pollution with contaminants such as
fertilizers, pesticides/herbicides, gasoline, and oil.
Environmental Protection: The importance of clean water, non-point source water pollution
such as:
Only Rain Down the Drain
Help Keep It Clean
All Drains Lead to the River
Spartanburg County Ecosystems: Local wildlife/habitats and natural beauty
Timeline
August 28th, 2025 | Contest Opens
September 21st, 2025 | Contest Ends
September 25th, 2025| Judges Review Deadline
September 26th, 2025 | Winning artwork announced
September 30th, 2025 | Drains cleaned and prepared, supplies gathered
October 1st – October 19th, 2025 | Artists schedule to paint drains and complete work
Eligibility
Open to all USC Upstate Students, Staff, and Faculty in addition to Spartanburg County residents.
Entry is Free.
Submit artwork to: sustainability@uscupstate.edu
For more information, please send an email to sustainability@uscupstate.edu
- Criteria
- All submissions will be scored on aesthetics, originality, and educational message.
• Design must be original to the artist, and one-of-a-kind.
• Design cannot include any breach of intellectual property, brands, trademarks, or depictions of
illegal activities.
• Designs may not incorporate any physical objects attached to the drains.
• Computer-generated designs will only be considered if accompanied by examples of your work as
a painter.
• The submitting artist must also be the artist who paints the storm drain. More than one artist may
work together.
• You may submit multiple conceptual sketches for consideration, but only one design per artist or
group will be selected.
• You may sign your work, but it must be no taller than 2 inches.
• Designs cannot contain business promotions or advertisements.
Submission Information
- Full name and best way to contact artist (email address or phone number)
- Sketch of your design idea (pdf, jpg, or png)
• Up to 5 images that accurately represent the artwork in scale and color.
• Include at least one image showing design within provided drain schematic. - Title and Brief concept description of artwork
- Preferred location (if applicable)
Please use the specific site dimensions provided to propose design concepts. Be mindful that
some changes to designs may be required to accommodate the specific location. We encourage artists
to submit a design that can be easily adjusted and/or scaled to match the specific dimensions of the site.
Proposed work must fit within the designated space, and utilize all parts of the drain, including the
mouth of the drain and the slatted metal grate. All artwork must remain within the confines of
the storm drain structure and should not extend to adjacent areas of decorative pavers, concrete,
asphalt, or surrounding landscape. It will not be possible to fix all cracks in the storm drains, so artists
should plan to incorporate surface imperfections into their design as needed.
Review and Selection
A committee of judges will select 5 designs that are graphically bold with clear messages relating to the
suggested themes, and with the potential to engage a wide range of audiences. All artwork will
be evaluated on artistic merit and unique storm drain integration.
Materials Provided
Safety cones
Fluorescent orange safety vest.
Water based acrylic paint (Primary Colors, plus Green, Black and White)
Set of paint brushes
Paint roller and tray
Plastic containers to mix paint colors
Drain sites will be cleaned and primed with white non-slip paint before artists will paint on the sites. USC
Upstate and SSWCD will erect temporary signage to direct pedestrians away from the area on painting
days, and will coordinate with facilities to minimize disruptions.
Artist Responsibilities
- Artists will take reasonable precautions to ensure they are visible and out of the path of vehicular
traffic while painting and are not creating hazardous conditions for pedestrians.
• Artist will communicate with the planning committee regarding their preferred painting date and
time well in advance to allow adequate time for sidewalk closure signs and barricades.
• Artists are expected to complete their work within 3 consecutive days, provided there are no
weather delays.
• Artists should plan for variable weather conditions and be prepared to postpone work during rain
events.
• Artists should wear appropriate clothing and stay hydrated.
• Artists are encouraged to begin work early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day.
• Artists will take precautions to ensure no paint is spilled into the storm drain inlet or on the
surfaces outside of printable areas. Artists will properly dispose of waste/rinse water (i.e. Not on the
ground or down the storm drain).
Terms & Conditions
Each participating artist agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the USC Upstate and SSWCD from any
loss or damage, any and all third-party claims, demands, actions, legal fees, or costs for which the
Artist is legally responsible, including those arising out of negligence, willful harm, or crimes by the
Artist or the Artist’s employees, agents, or subcontractors. This “hold harmless” agreement shall survive
beyond the term of the Artist’s service contract. USC Upstate and SSWCD will not be liable or
responsible for any bodily or personal injury or property damage of any nature that may be suffered by
the Artist, their employees, agents, or subcontractors in the performance of this Project, except to the
extent of any negligence or misconduct on the part of USC Upstate and SSWCD.
USC Upstate reserves the right to remove artwork at any time for any reason without warning. The
project committee reserves the right to remove any final design that does not meet the criteria above
or does not hold true to the original conceptual sketch submitted by the artist.
Vandalism and Maintenance
Artists should understand that the finished works will be on working drains, and that time and weather
will eventually cause artwork to fade. Artists should also be aware that vandalism could occur. Artists
must accept the possibility that their artwork may be altered, removed, or damaged at any time
after completion.
Copyright
Each artist further grants the USC Upstate and SSWCD the following exclusive rights: (a) Reproduction
(including electronic images) for fundraising, educational and promotional purposes. (b) The right to
remove the artwork or selections of the artwork from the site for any reason, including but not limited
to:
- Endangerment of public safety,
- Damage to the drain (including vandalism) requiring repair or maintenance,
- Replacement or maintenance of the drain.
- Wear and tear of the design
