Contact: Kyle Shepherd
kyle.shepherd@louisvilleky.gov
(O) 502-238-5331 (C) 502-744-5639
The Louisville Zoo invites students of all ages throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana to participate in its annual Trashformation student art contest. Trashformation is part of the Louisville Zoo’s Party for the Planet: A Month-Long Celebration of the Earth, powered by LG&E and KU Foundation.
To honor the earth and all it provides, this year, the contest is asking students to take a different approach to the items used to create their art. Pollinators are the theme for the art contest and students are encouraged to create pollinator-friendly items using primarily natural, found materials such as rocks, wood, sticks, leaves, bamboo, etc. The goal is to make a shelter or place of rest for pollinators that resembles a natural, inviting habitat. The Zoo suggests students consider making things like a bat house, a bird feeder, a bee house, or other items beneficial to pollinators that can be painted or embellished with found or recycled items to showcase their own style. The final projects should be placed in the student’s home garden, a neighborhood garden or a school garden to support pollinators in their area during the summer and fall of 2023.
Why pollinators? Where pollinators spread pollen, they spread life. They give life to flowers by helping them reproduce, and they even help provide for humans. Unfortunately, many pollinators are struggling due to habitat loss and pesticides. The Louisville Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Saving Animals From Extinction initiative for monarch butterflies, among many other pollinator conservation efforts. Through this art contest, the Zoo hopes to encourage the community to help pollinators by creating pollinator-friendly additions for their own backyards and neighborhoods.
Trashformation is open to all public, private, parochial and homeschool students from preschool through 12th grade. The contest is open to individual students or groups of four or more. Students are asked to register for the program and submit photographs or videos of their art at louisvillezoo.org/trashformation.
Registration for the contest is appreciated by Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Each student, or group of 4+ students, may enter only one project. Those who register by March 1 will be entered into a drawing to win four admission tickets to the Louisville Zoo. Registration does not require students to submit their final projects; it reflects their intention to submit a project by the Trashformation deadline of April 4, 2023.
A panel of judges will choose one winner from each category. Winners will be announced on the Zoo’s social channels on Earth Day, April 22, 2023. The winning students will be invited to share their projects for display at the Zoo beginning April 30 in the Zoo’s pollinator area near the Butterflies n’ Blooms exhibit.
To learn more about the project categories, rules or to submit a project for judging, visit louisvillezoo.org/trashformation.
Full details of Party for the Planet, powered by LG&E and KU Foundation, will be announced at a later date. The month-long celebration of Earth features special presentations and animal encounters that emphasize the importance of conservation and biodiversity. The month also includes discounts on FunDay Mondays (April 10, 17 and 24) with reduced admission of $7.25 per person. The celebration culminates on Sunday, April 30, with free parking and $5 off Zoo admission (per person), courtesy of LG&E and KU Foundation.
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The Louisville Zoo, the State Zoo of Kentucky, is the top, non-profit, paid attraction in the state. The Zoo is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
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