Sponsors Wanted: Ashland SWCD seeks rain barrel sponsors for 6th annual Rain Beat on Main Street event

For the last five summers, art and conservation came together for Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District’s Rain Beat on Main Street events. This year, the district is excited to bring back this community-favorite event to three locations across the county: Loudonville’s Central Park, Ashland’s Corner Park and Balloonfest at Freer Field.

That’s why the district is on the hunt for local sponsors to provide rain barrels for local artists to turn into one-of-a-kind works of art for the event. Each rain barrel is sponsored by a community business or group, then local artists transform the standard, urn-shaped rain barrels. Each year, 25-30 barrels have been sponsored, painted and auctioned off with the proceeds going to stormwater education programs.

“Rain Beat on Main Street event has been such a fun event throughout the community, and we were so excited to have so much interest and involvement from local businesses and artists,” said Jane Houin, Ashland SWCD director. “This year, we’re hoping to welcome back long-time sponsors and bring some new sponsors as wel3”

This year’s even will take place June 16-22 in Loudonville’s Central Park, with barrels moving to the Ashland Balloonfest on June 23-30 and wrapping up with a display in Ashland’s Corner Park July 1-9..

When a business sponsors a rain barrel, they can provide their own artist or SWCD staff will connect those sponsored barrels with local artists. The barrels get primed, painted and sealed by the artists, then are displayed at the Rain beat on Main Street events throughout the county.

While the rain barrels on on display, an online auction will be taking place where community members can bid on their favorite rain barrels. The proceeds from the auction are used for stormwater education events in the county. For example, this year Ashland SWCD will be hosting several Conservation Chat workshops with those funds, including a river clean up, a three-part habitat stewardship program, and a youth education event this summer. And of course, that’s in addition to helping to fund tree seedlings for second graders across the county to celebrate arbor day.

“I’m always floored each year beautiful variety of rain barrels that were created, from larger than life parrots in the rain forest and honeybee skeps to African sunsets to rolling farm fields, each of the rain barrels is a unique work of art and the response to them was phenomenal,” Houin said. “And just when I think I’ve seen them all, a new artist or concept comes in a just knocks it out of the park.”

Local artists who are interested in applying to paint a rain barrel can contact Jody Irwin, Ashland SWCD administrative assistant at 419-281-7645 or at jodyswcd@gmail.com for more information.

Rain barrel sponsorship is $150, or platinum level ($500) Ashland SWCD affiliate members receive a rain barrel sponsorship as part of their affiliate membership.More information can be found at www.ashlandswcd.com