Art opens our senses to experience the world around us.
With thanks to the Here to Help Team, the PIN - People and Information Network - is pleased to welcome artists and photographers in a unique initiative to celebrate volunteerism.
The Community Art Contest opens February 1st and welcomes submissions of art or photography that embodies the theme of community.
If you’re an artist or photographer, please share your passion and creativity by submitting a photo of a piece of original art or a photograph on Instagram. Any piece that you believe embodies the theme of community is welcome—the organizers would love to see it!
The contest is a way to engage with the community through an artistic medium, says Kim Cusimano, Executive Director, PIN. “Through this initiative, we seek to celebrate local artistic talent in Guelph Wellington and elevate awareness of the winning artist by having their submission turned into the award for our Time to Give National Volunteer Week Volunteer Awards.”
PIN holds an annual community event called Time to Give to celebrate volunteerism. This year, they aim to present five volunteer awards:
- Leaders of Tomorrow Award (youth ages 14–24)
- Lifetime Achievement Award (20+ years of service)
- Community Volunteer Award (an individual in a formal or informal volunteer role)
- Volunteer Leadership Award (board or committee member)
- Guiding Light Award (an individual affecting change through volunteerism)
Both art and volunteerism are incredible gifts to the community, says Cusimano. This contest simply brings a local focus to both.
The contest opens February 1st with submissions due by February 15th. Be sure to tag PIN on your entry and use the hashtag #PINHereToHelp.
Once the contest closes, a committee from PIN will choose the finalists and welcome the community to vote for their favourite via Instagram. Voting will be open starting February 21st for a period of two weeks.
Please share details of this contest with your fellow artists and any local art and photography organizations and businesses. The more entries received the better!
The winner will receive a $500 honorarium and will be featured in PIN’s Time to Give programme and digital booklet, as well as the organization’s website, social media, member e-newsletter and subscriber listing. The winning piece of art will also be turned into a small print, to be given out as the 2022 Volunteer Award for National Volunteer Week.
This marks the first year the contest is being held. “We are excited to see the creativity and how individuals view art that ‘embodies community',” says Cusimano. “All art is beautiful. Tell us, through your lens, sketch or painting, what do you see that embodies community?”
PIN is a non-profit organization that provides programs and services in Guelph and Wellington. Their focus: to help people engage in their community in a way that is meaningful to them. They help people find volunteer opportunities that are a good fit for their interests, passions and skills. They also support local non-profits and charities in their efforts to engage volunteers by providing resources, training and consultation.
PIN also helps people find information about health services, income supports, settlement services, seniors’ programs and more through an online database of more than 1200 local listings.
Says Cusimano, “We love local. Since 2001, we have invested the work of our organization into community and volunteerism. The idea that local art become a Volunteer Award brings the community even closer together celebrating art, photography and volunteerism.”
Learn more about the People and Information Network.
Tag @PINnetworkGW #PINHereToHelp #Artist #Photography #NVW2022