Water Conservation Initiatives
What is the Painted Rain Barrel Project?
To raise awareness for sustainable watering resources, the City of Georgetown’s Water Conservation team invites local artists to create art pieces out of rain barrels.
The barrels will be displayed around City facilities and local businesses downtown, before and during the South Main Arts Festival, which is held annually in October. All painted barrels will be available for community members purchase via a silent auction that will run through the course of the Autumn Art Stroll and South Main Arts Festival in the fall.
The Painted Rain Barrel Project supports water conservation education and outreach efforts and is a wonderful way to support local artists. The program started in 2022, and this page will be updated each year with new dates and information.
Painted Rain Barrel Artists
All artists and student artists are invited to submit up to three designs for consideration while submittals are being accepted. This submittal period changes every year but is generally in the August-September timeframe. There is no application fee. Proposals will be selected by the Georgetown Arts and Culture Board for consideration and presented to the Georgetown Water Conservation Team for final selection. For more information on submission guidelines please visit the Georgetown Arts & Culture request for artist proposals.
Host a Painted Rain Barrel
Hosting a painted rain barrel is a great way for local businesses and facilities to help City of Georgetown’s Water Conservation team bring awareness to the effectiveness of rain barrels as a source of irrigation water. A beautifully painted rain barrel will be placed at your facility in the month of October along with informative materials related to water conservation and a QR code for folks to bid in the silent auction. If you are interested in hosting a Painted Rain Barrel, please contact conservationservices@georgetown.org.
Bid on a Painted Rain Barrel
Earnings from the Painted Rain Barrel auction will go to water conservation education and outreach efforts. Bidding on Painted Rain Barrels will begin after all barrels are completed. Check back here for updates and information.
Check back here for silent auction open and close dates, a link to the silent auction site, and updated information for artists and hosts.
Learn more about our water conservation rebates, including a rebate for rain barrels.
Anticipated 2023 Timeline
- End of Summer – Call for Artist entries opens.
- Early September – Georgetown Arts and Culture Board will recommend proposals for the Georgetown Water Conservation team to choose from.
- Mid-September – Georgetown Water Conservation team will select 10 proposals to commission. Artists will be notified of the final selection. Artist contracts to be signed upon receipt of their prepped, blank barrel in mid-September.
- Early October – Barrels to be completed and dropped off.
- Oct. 19 – Autum Art Stroll
- Oct. 21 – South Main Arts Festival
Imagine a Day Without Water
How to Participate in Georgetown
Every year, the City of Georgetown joins other cities across the country in Imagine A Day Without Water‘s day of action. In 2023, the City will celebrate on Oct. 19 at our annual Autumn Art Stroll. Pick up your water conservation passport at check in, get a stamp at participating businesses around the Square, and return it to the Water Conservation booth. Return your passport between 4 and 8 p.m., and you will be entered into a goodie bag giveaway contest. Additional details to follow.
About “Imagine a Day Without Water”
Many people don’t have to imagine a day without water because they already live it.
Water contamination or shortages leave millions of people every day without water to drink, prepare meals, bathe their children, wash their hands, flush the toilet, or do laundry. Firefighters can’t put out fires, and farmers cannot water their crops. Hospitals would close without water.
This annual, nationwide event encourages people to learn more about our water systems and what we can do to help improve access to adequate drinking water.
