BLADEN COUNTY ANNOUNCED FREEDOM ART CONTEST
Adult and Student Categories with cash prizes
BLADEN COUNTY ANNOUNCES FREEDOM ART CONTEST
Deadline for Submission is May 25, 2025
What is your definition of Freedom?
As part of the America’s 250th Celebration in 2026, the Bladen County A250 Committee along with the Elizabethtown - White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce have announce an art contest, challenging artists to depict their interpretation of “Freedom”.
According to coordinators, artists can submit original two-dimensional (2D) work created within the last 12 months using a medium of the artist’s choice with a size not larger than 18” X 24” and no smaller than 8” X 10”. The entries will be judged in two categories: adult (above 18) and student (18 and under). The first and place winner in each category will receive a cash prize, sponsored by Camp Clearwater.
The Bladen County Freedom Art Contest is part of a larger regional contest in which winning entries will compete with artists from 7 other southeastern NC counties in the 2025-2026 NC First in Freedom Festival Regional Art Contest.
The Bladen County A250 committee plans to display the artwork at various events throughout 2026. Winners submitted to the regional contest will also be displayed at various locations during the First in Freedom Festival, February 21-28, 2026.
Complete entire forms and details can be found on the America 250th page on the Elizabethtown – White Lake Chamber website (https://elizabethtownwhitelake.com/americas-250th-celebration/). For more information, contact the Chamber at 910-862-4368.
The Bladen County A250 Committee is actively working on plans to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday in 2026. Recently, they were awarded a grant from NC DNCR to create a “Driving Tour of Historical Sites in the Mother County”, which is planned to be presented at the Trail Festival Weekend 2026. Several events have been scheduled.
