Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr., today announced that the 4^th Annual Oneida County Youth Bureau Sidewalk Art Contest will take place the week of July 9^th. The event will take place in municipalities across the county and in partnership with the many youth serving agencies throughout Oneida County.

Children in age specific categories; 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14-18 will have the opportunity to draw a positive scene on a single sidewalk slab with sidewalk chalk. The individual winners chosen from each municipality and agency will compete in the finals Thursday July 19^th on the sidewalks in front of Pratt Institute at Munson-Williams- Proctor on State Street in Utica. The rain date is Friday July 20^th.

“Our county-wide participation grew from 656 youth and 60 finalists in 2010 to 844 participants and 70 finalists last year,” Picente said. “This event gives our children the opportunity to showcase their artistic talent, as the Oneida County Youth Bureau continues to work with municipalities, agencies and school districts to provide safe, positive and innovative programming, striving to find each child’s niche where he or she can be successful,” Picente added.

“It’s an event you walk into with a smile on your face and walk away with an even bigger smile on your face,” Oneida County Youth Bureau Director Bob Roth said. “It’s a neat event and a fantastic opportunity for our youth to experience one of the jewels of Oneida County, Munson-Williams-Proctor Art Institute.”  

For more information regarding the Sidewalk Art Contest please contact Tom Giruzzi of the Oneida County Youth Bureau at 798-5027.