The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hosts an annual art competition to choose the image for its Duck Stamp.
Grove City Arts Council will be holding a series of four workshops to learn more about the competition and create a painting in acrylic or oil for possible entry. Classes will be held May, 1, 8, 15 and 22 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, 4501 Hoover Road, in Grove City.
Attendees must be at least 12 years of age. The cost per person for the four-week workshop is $80. Interested students may register in person at the Park Street museum, 3378 Park St., print a form from the Grove City Arts Council Facebook page or website, or call 614-670-2926 to have a form emailed to you.
Proceeds from the class will benefit student art scholarships.
The Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest is the only legislatively mandated federal art competition in the nation. Thousands of wildlife artists have entered since the first open competition in 1949. A panel of art, waterfowl and philatelic authorities judges the art and selects the work for the next stamp. Judging will take place over a two-day period and is free and open to the public.
Formally known as the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, the Federal Duck Stamp is a required purchase for waterfowl hunters age 16 and older. As the longest-running, single-themed U.S. postal stamp, it is valued as a collector’s item. Many birders and other outdoors enthusiasts also buy the stamps as a way to support wildlife conservation.
Proceeds from the sale of duck stamps are used to buy or lease wetlands and associated upland habitats for inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
For more information about the Duck Stamp Program, to buy stamps, or to view images of previous winners, visit: http://www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp.php.
