Students are encouraged to submit designs with the theme of environmental stewardship and climate resiliency
Middle and high school students in Fargo are being invited to create original artwork with a focus on environmental stewardship and climate resiliency for the chance to have their artwork featured on a local MATBUS bus for one year.
The call for submissions is open to all students who live in Fargo or are enrolled in a school within Fargo during the 2023‐2024 school year. The deadline for submissions is on Friday, Feb. 2, at 5 p.m.
To provide students with more information about the guidelines, an informational session will be held on Friday, Jan. 26, from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Metro Transit Garage (located at 650 23rd St. N., Fargo). Interested students can also view a MATBUS bus in person and ask questions.
A review panel will evaluate submissions based on how effectively the artwork tells a story or message. Other criteria include how well the artwork reflects the theme and incorporates ties in the Fargo community, and provides an eye-catching design that translates well to a bus wrap.
The highest‐scoring submission will be selected to be featured on a MATBUS bus for one year, with the artist receiving $500. The second‐highest scoring submission will receive $300, and the third‐highest scoring submission will receive $200.
All submissions are expected to be displayed at Fargo City Hall (located at 225 4th St. N.) in the spring. Production and installation of the bus wrap will be made possible by using renewable energy revenues through the Solid Waste Utility.
The initiative to create a sustainability-themed bus wrap was unanimously approved by the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee in 2023, in collaboration with the Fargo Youth Initiative and the Arts and Culture Commission.
Abhijna Kavasseri, who serves as the Fargo Youth Initiative representative on the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee, said, “I encourage students to submit art to this project, which will help amplify the voice of our youth in the message of sustainability. Using our buses as a canvas, we can advocate for a sustainable future for Fargo!”
For more information, including the required Bus Wrap Art Template, visit The City of Fargo website or call the Planning & Development Department at 701.241.1474.