Maybe you’re an artist, or maybe you just consider yourself artistically inclined – in either case, there’s a plum opportunity for you to show your stuff and support the arts at the same time. Vote Yes Minnesota is accepting submissions for one more week in its Poster Design Contest (and a Walker Art Center membership is part of the first prize).
Beyond the prizes, there’s the visibility factor: The posters will be used by Vote Yes Minnesota throughout the Cities and all over the state (and here at the Walker) to create awareness of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. The “legacy” portion of the amendment is a reference to Minnesota’s long and outstanding history of arts and culture – and the question of whether we, as citizens, want to extend that legacy for future generations.
In addition to supporting arts and culture, funds raised by a sales-tax increase of three-eighths of one percent will combat water pollution in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and protect and preserve forests, parks, trails, and game and wildlife habitat. In other words, Vote Yes Minnesota is a campaign to support and safeguard our culture and our environment – two key reasons for living here.
Vote Yes Minnesota has designated several themes for posters; you can pick one for your design and get the other guidelines here.
Finally, as noted, the deadline is next Friday, September 26, so you should really get on it.
And here is the wording that you’ll see on your ballot on November 2:
Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to dedicate funding to protect our drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore our wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve our arts and cultural heritage; to support our parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore our lakes, rivers, steams, and groundwater by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2009, by three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2034?