Litter prevention starts with education
The Litter Trashes Everyone Art Contest is now officially The Governor’s Art Contest on Litter Prevention! This annual litter awareness art competition is for all South Carolina K-5 students. To participate in this fun and educational competition, students create artwork illustrating the theme Litter Trashes Everyone. With nearly 10,000 participants in the 2025-2026 school year, the art contest is now more competitive than ever.
How it works
- The 2027 Art Contest opens on October 1, 2026.
- Educators submit the registration.
- Educators present our litter lesson to the entire class.
- Students create artwork focused on litter—no recycling-related content.
- School administration judges all participating students’ artwork and selects ONE (1) student to represent your school. More than one entry per school will not be accepted.
- Mail winning entry to PalmettoPride.
- Address to PalmettoPride 2700 Middleburg Drive Suite 216 Columbia, SC 29204.
- Include type-written (DO NOT HANDPRINT) sheet with artwork denoting the School Name, Student Name and Grade Level.
- Contact education@palmettopride.org for more information.
Requirements
- Plain white 8.5×11 paper may be used.
- Artwork must be themed around Litter Trashes Everyone.
- No copyrighted content such as logos or brand names should be included on artwork.
- Images/photographs of the submitted work may be featured on our various social media outlets and promotional material. All images are subject to editing.
Selecting the winning artwork
- The Selection Committee values content over artistic ability.
- Use litter-specific messaging. Specifically, avoid references to recycling.
- Relate the artwork to South Carolina in some way. Keep it local by avoiding references to the Planet Earth!
- While we love wildlife and animals, we find most students depict them in their artwork. Think of unique ways to convey the message so your artwork stands out.
- Refer to past years’ winning artwork—we are looking for something new and innovative!
Awards
- State winner: PalmettoPride selects one statewide winner. The winning artist, their teacher and the school each receive a monetary award. The school and the artist each receive a framed reprint of the winning artwork. Beginning with the 2025 Art Contest, PalmettoPride will commission an artist to transform the winning artwork into a public art piece (mural, sculpture, etc.) in the state winner’s school or community.
- Regional winners: PalmettoPride selects four regional winners—Lowcountry, Midlands, Pee Dee and Upstate. Each regional winning artist, their teacher and the school receive a monetary award. The school and the artist each receive a framed reprint of the region’s winning artwork.
- The regional and statewide winners with their school administrators, teachers and parents will be invited to attend. If requested, PalmettoPride will also conduct an awards ceremony at the winning school at a date to be determined.