CALL FOR ENTRIES

Earth Conservancy is excited to announce an art contest to design the cover of our upcoming native wildflower pollinator mix seed packets!

We’re looking for artwork that tells a story – one that celebrates our region’s anthracite mining history, captures the ongoing transformation of the land, and highlights the native plants and pollinators that are helping to bring it back to life.  Your design could feature pollinators, wildflowers, reclaimed landscapes, or your creative interpretation of how the area’s past connects to our future.

The winning design will be featured on the front of a limited-edition seed packet launching in 2026 – and your work will be shared through our website, social media, and newsletter, and at the many conferences and community events where these packets will be distributed. Submission deadline is Friday, November 21, 2025, 3:00pm.

Questions? Contact Dr. Elizabeth W. Hughes by email (e.hughes@earthconservancy.org) or by phone (570.823.3445).

For over 30 years, Earth Conservancy (EC) has been leading efforts to restore and repurpose 16,500 acres of former coal company-owned land in the Wyoming Valley of northeastern Pennsylvania. When the Blue Coal Corporation went bankrupt in the 1970s, thousands of acres were left abandoned – stripped bare by decades of mining and seen by many as irreparably damaged. EC saw them differently: as an opportunity for transformation and growth. Since then, we’ve reclaimed more than 2,000 acres, restored damaged streams, and preserved over 9,300 acres for trails, parks, wildlife habitat, and recreation. Alongside these efforts, EC has developed comprehensive land-use plans, built acid mine drainage treatment systems, run a large-scale composting facility, and led environmental education initiatives that connect people with the land and its history. These projects trace back to EC’s overarching plan, seeking a more livable community now, while clearing the way for positive, progressive change for future generations. To explore some of our projects, visit the OUR WORK page to see what we do!

First Place: $250 + winning artwork featured on the limited-edition seed packet
Second Place: $100
Third Place: $50

All three winning artists will also be recognized on EC’s website, newsletter, and social media. The first-place design will be used for the front of the pollinator seed packets, which will be distributed at select community events and conferences.

• Who Can Enter: Open to all ages – students, hobbyists, and professionals welcome!
• Number of Entries: Limit one per person.
• Artwork Type: Any 2D medium (digital media, painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, photography, etc). No AI-generated or derivative works.
• Full Color: The final packet will be printed in full color (CMYK).
• Dimensions: 6.25” x 4.25” (portrait orientation)
• Theme: Reflect the region’s mining heritage, ecological restoration, and pollinator-friendly native plants.
• Originality: All artwork must be original and free of copyright restrictions or other intellectual property rights.
• Appropriateness: Artwork should be respectful and suitable for a general audience. Submissions must not include offensive, defamatory, or inappropriate content, or violate anyone’s rights.
• Signatures: Do not include your name and/or signature in the actual artwork.

1. Entry Agreement & Artist’s Release: Download and complete the required entry form and sign the artist’s release waiver. By submitting, artists grant EC perpetual, royalty-free rights to reproduce the winning design for seed packet production, promotional materials, and educational purposes.
2. Download the Template: Use the 6.25” x 4.25” portrait template (on artist’s agreement) as your guide. All designs must stay within the dimensions provided.
3. Prepare Your Artwork: Digital files must be high resolution (300 dpi minimum) and submitted as .pdf, .jpg or .png. Name digital files LastName_FirstName_SeedPacket.png (e.g., Smith_Jane_SeedPacket). Physical submissions are also welcome.
4. Submit Your Entry: Email digital entries to e.hughes@earthconservancy.org. Physical entries can be mailed to (or dropped-off at) Earth Conservancy, ATTN: Elizabeth Hughes, 101 South Main Street, Ashley, PA 18706, Monday – Friday, between 8:00am and 3:00pm. Deadline for submissions is November 21, 2025, 3:00pm. Physical submissions will not be returned.

Our custom seed blend will include native wildflowers that support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators – like black-eyed Susan, butterfly milkweed, coreopsis, spiderwort, purple coneflower, and more. A full list of species is available upon request.

Round 1: Submissions will be reviewed blindly by EC staff, with scoring based on theme relevance, artistic quality/originality, and visual impact at a small scale.

Round 2: The top 3 designs will move on to EC’s Board of Directors for final selection in December.

The winning artist will be notified by email and publicly recognized.

Contest Overview, Criteria, & Guidelines
Entry Agreement, Artist’s Release, & Template (download to your computer first to use fillable fields and to digitally sign)