For a fifth year, local artists are challenged to creatively paint rain barrels, as part of a fun way to educate the community on the benefits of using rain barrels to improve water quality.

The Lincoln Children's Zoo and the City of Lincoln Watershed Management will choose artists based on their applications. Teachers who wish to apply for their class will be required to submit a short description of how they will use the rain barrel as a teaching tool in their classroom. A total of 25 artists will be selected for this year's program.

Once artists have been selected, they will have five weeks to paint and return their barrels. After barrels have been returned, they will be displayed at SouthPointe Pavilions for over a month.

Thousands of people will be exposed to this artwork, as this program will be publicized via newspaper, radio and photos of all decorated barrels will be posted on the City of Lincoln's website. Additionally, all artistic barrels will be on display with interpretative signage at SouthPointe Pavilions during the months of March and April 2013. The barrels will be auctioned at SouthPointe Pavilions on April 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; all proceeds will be given the Lincoln Children's Zoo to support summer classes, educational information for exhibits and other environmental education programs.