By EXPRESS STAFF
The Ketchum-based nonprofit group Advocates for Real Community Housing (ARCH), in partnership with the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, is conducting a countywide student art competition called "Blaine County Idols."
The competition features three categories: visual, written and performing arts. The visual arts category includes photography, film, mixed media, poster, sculpture, collage and drawing art. Written arts includes poetry, essay, short story and children's story. Performing arts includes music/song, dance, skit, monologue and puppetry.
The registration deadline is April 7. Details and registration forms can be found at ARCH's Web site, www.archbc.org, or by calling 727-6841.
"Our goal is to include the young people in the valley in the understanding and illumination of this critical local issue. Young people have a fresh and creative way of viewing local issues and their environment," said Joyce Friedman, ARCH volunteer and program director. "This contest, along with the (ARCH) Housing Week, are stepping stones to raise awareness among our community ... Without increasing our supply of community housing, we lose firefighters, teachers, and other professionals who would not otherwise be able to live here."
The contest will accept entries from participants ranging from 5 to 21 years old. The deadline for completion of the projects is May 19.
First prize in each category will be $250 along with gift certificates. Those and other participant awards will be presented during the Blaine County Community Housing Week, July 12 to July 15.
The Housing Week event features a series of speakers and information sources focused on providing solutions to the housing issues facing Blaine County. There will be sessions for homebuyers, employers, government officials, real estate professionals, developers and others involved in land-use planning.
ARCH is a nonprofit citizen advocacy group for affordable housing, sponsoring and participating in initiatives that support the availability and access to affordable housing in Blaine County. For more information on how to support or participate in the Housing Week activities, please call 726-4411 or visit www.archbc.org.
