“Power to the People!” Art Contest 

“Power to the People!” Guiding Messages

Entrants will select one or several of the following “Power to the People!” safety and informational messages to inform and inspire their artwork. 

You Can Prevent Trees from Overpowering The Lines.

• The most common cause of a power outage is trees falling on power lines. People can help keep the power on by preventing trees from falling on the power lines.
• A tree within 10 feet of a power line, especially one that is leaning toward a power line, is called a “risk tree” and should be trimmed by a professional arborist.
• Never trim a tree close to a power line yourself. You could get electrocuted or damage the power lines! Call a professional arborist; they are trained to safely work on trees near power lines! 
• If you plant new trees, make sure they are 10 feet or more from power lines. Trees like maple, spruce, and birch grow very tall and should be planted farther away.

Be a Neighborhood Hero.

• Look around at the trees on your road and in your neighborhood.  If your trees fall on the power lines, your neighbor’s power might go out, too.  If your neighbor’s trees fall, it might damage the lines to your house and make your power go out.

• If the power goes out, check on your neighbors, they might need help.
• Some of our neighbors don’t have wood stoves or generators, and it’s dangerous when the power goes out in winter.
• Some of our neighbors need electricity for medical devices.

Stay Safe, Give it Some Space.

• If you see a tree touching a power line, or a broken power line, call 9-1-1 and your power company. Don’t try to fix it yourself!
• Stay at least 30 feet away from a downed line. Electricity can jump through the air!
• Don’t drive over power lines on the ground – they can carry electricity and electrocute you!
• Don’t touch trees that are touching the power lines – they can carry electricity and electrocute you!
• If a power line falls on your house or your car, stay inside and call 9-1-1. Don’t touch any metal or water. Wait until emergency personnel tell you that power is off before leaving your house or car.

Preparation is Power.

• If a storm is coming, be prepared for a power outage.
• Fill containers with water for drinking, fill a bucket with water to flush your toilet.
• Make sure your flashlight, headlamp, and cell-phone batteries are fully powered up.
• Have solar-powered lights, power packs, and a battery-powered radio handy.
• Have books and board games to keep you busy.
• Ask your neighbors if they have what they need – if they need help, offer to help or find help. 
• A big storm can knock lots of trees down at once, and it could take a long time for your power to come back on.  If you are not in danger, be patient – the people who work for your power company are out in the storm, working hard to help people who are in danger.

“Power to the People!” Art Contest Official Rules

• Entry deadline is July 15, 2025, 11:59pm ET. Winners will be notified after judging; winners will be officially announced to the public on the Sunrise County Economic Council website and social media after July 31 2025.
• Washington County youth, ages 13 to 18, are eligible to participate.
• More than one piece of artwork may be submitted per contest entrant.
• A signed and completed Entry Form and Permission Form must accompany each piece of artwork, giving Sunrise County Economic Council permission to utilize the artwork in the “Power to the People!” campaign, as described in these submission guidelines.
• Artwork must be the entrant’s original work. 
• Accepted artwork media are paint, pencil, markers, ink, crayon, chalk or pastel (fixed), collage, or still digital media. Media must be no smaller than 5” x 7” and no larger than 22” x 34”. Not accepted are photographs, video, 3-dimensional work, or media created by artificial intelligence.

How to Submit Artwork

Artwork and signed Submission/Permission Forms may be submitted by mail, in person, or online. Original artwork will be returned.  SCEC is not liable for lost or damaged artwork. Each piece of artwork submitted must include a separate Submission/Permission Form.

• Mailed Submissions: All entries must be postmarked to SCEC, Attn: Crystal Hitchings, 7 Ames Way, Machias, ME 04654, no later than July 15, 2025.
• In-person Submissions: Artwork may be dropped off at the SCEC office at 7 Ames Way in Machias
• Digital Submissions: To submit artwork digitally, please take a photo or a scan of the artwork, with a minimum resolution of 300dpi. Accepted file types: .jpg, .pdf, .png. Maximum file size 100MB.

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