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American Indian Heritage Month Call for Artists

The month of November is nationally designated as American Indian Heritage Month. This provides an opportunity to celebrate and make people aware of the history of American Indians and their contributions to the world.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) celebrates by sponsoring a contest for American Indian artists. The winning artwork is produced into a poster and distributed nationwide. This year, NRCS Tennessee has been selected to coordinate the poster contest and poster development. The winning entrant will have his or her artwork and heritage recognized nationally.

One piece of artwork will be selected and used for the 2015 NRCS American Indian Heritage Month Poster.

Artwork and registration must be received by June 30, 2015.
  • There is no registration or entry fee. If you intend to submit an entry, please register as soon as possible by contacting:
    Mitchell L. Aman AI/AN SEPM and District Conservationist
    USDA/NRCS
    820 William D. Jones Boulevard
    Fayetteville, TN 37334
    Phone: 931-438-2450, Ext. 3
    Email: Mitchell.Aman@tn.usda.gov
  • All Native American artists in Tennessee are invited to submit artwork.
  • There is no age limit.
  • Submit one original artwork, size 18” x 24”, acrylic or oil on canvas, ready for reproduction (with the understanding that the poster will be printed in 18” x 24” format, but also distributed in 11” x 17” format electronically).
  • The theme for the artwork will be:
    “Unity and Coexistence of All Nations”
  • The title for the artwork will be:
    “Water – Life’s Flow Soil – Provider of Generations”
  • The story included in the lower portion of the artwork will be:
    “We thank the Earth whom we claim as Mother. Mother Earth supports us, enables life for all creatures, provides air, life-giving water, and soil. Water provides life to the whole plant. We go to water to quench our thirsts, for cleansing, and to give life to what we grow in the soil. Soil provides the substance of survival. The very dust upon which we now stand responds more lovingly to footsteps because it is rich with the blood of our ancestors and our bare feet are conscious of that touch.”
A brief written narrative about the artwork must accompany the submission.

A selection committee will judge the artwork and select a winner no later than July 8, 2015.

NRCS will purchase the artwork from the winning artist for $2,000 and have the right to reproduce and distribute copies of the artwork at its discretion. A contractual agreement will be written to set forth the terms of the procurement and rights of the two parties. 

Copies of the poster will be distributed and displayed in all NRCS offices in the 50 states plus the Caribbean and Pacific Basin areas.

Artists can view previous American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month posters by clicking here.