During the first Earth Day celebration held on Apr. 22 in 1970, event founder and U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson proclaimed, "Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures." 

That mentality has persevered over the last 50 years, while the annual event has grown into a global effort coordinated across 193 countries. In celebration of this milestone anniversary, the UGA Office of Sustainability will present a virtual exhibition called the UGA Earth Day Challenge. Between climate change and COVID-19, it’s a critical time to contemplate how to collectively maintain our relationships to natural systems. Might as well make it beautiful! 

Any member of the UGA or Athens area community is eligible to submit up to three works for consideration. Selected pieces will be shared in a virtual exhibition during Earth Week (Apr. 20–24) and beyond, therefore entries must be presentable through online platforms and social media. Winning submissions for each category will receive Earth-friendly prizes like subscriptions to Awesome Possum Curbside Compost Service, Bulldog Bike Share and Collective Harvest CSA. See the call for entries below. 

Call for Entries

Share with us through art how you are connecting with and appreciating the earth, people, or other living creatures during this time of uncertainty, and how this can inspire an even better future.

Submission deadline: Art works must be submitted by midnight on Sunday April 19, using the Earth Day 2020 (Art) Challenge - Submission Form. 

Any form of expression is accepted - music, dance, poetry, essay, video, other forms of visual art, etc. - in three categories:

• Appreciation
  • Convey a sense of personal connection with and appreciation for the earth, people, or other living creatures
• Awareness
  • Illuminate a current issue affecting the health and wellbeing of the earth, people, or other living creatures
• Action
  • Conduct or inspire meaningful action to protect the earth, people, or other living creatures

Publication and prizes awarded to selected works from each category.

Works must be completed while following appropriate social and physical distancing in adherence to advice and requirements of both the University System of Georgia and the Centers for Disease Control.

For more information, visit the UGA EARTH DAY 2020 (Art) CHALLENGE website.