Montana Meth Project launches Paint the State art contest

Teens and adults are being invited to participate in a statewide art contest promoting drug prevention.

The Montana Meth Project is launching Paint the State 2023, a public art contest aimed at engaging Montana teens and adults in on-the-ground drug prevention.

The contest invites Montana residents 13 years of age and older to create monument-sized original public works of art that inspire Montanans to live vibrant drug-free lives incorporating the Meth Project’s “Not Even Once” message.

“The Montana Meth Project is excited to announce Paint the State 2023 to bring light to the meth problem in our state and engage Montanans in much-needed in-person drug prevention outreach,” said Amy Rue, executive director of the Montana Meth Project. “We invite teens and adults to tap their creativity and community spirit and register now for Paint the State.”

Registration is currently open at PaintTheState.org. Individuals and groups may register to create their large-scale public art installations in teen and adult divisions. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top regional submissions and to statewide winners.

“Combating the meth crisis has become more urgent as methamphetamine-related overdoses, hospitalizations, and deaths increase,” said Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte in a release. “I encourage Montanans to join the Paint the State initiative by creating public works of art that stir and inspire all Montanans to live drug-free.”

“We've been talking a lot recently about the dangers of illicit fentanyl in Montana, and rightly so, as it is a new and emerging threat. However, methamphetamine is still king and it's the reason behind the drastic increase of crime in our state over the past decade,” said Attorney General Austin Knudsen. “With the increased purity of lab-made methamphetamine — and the presence of fentanyl in it — smuggled across the border and into our state, it's more critical now than ever to prevent young Montanans from trying it even one time.”

Individual artists are invited to share their talents by participating in Paint the State, as well as youth groups, service organizations, and treatment and recovery groups.

“The learning and authentic peer-to-peer dialogue that happens while creating a community art project is invaluable. Participants really become drug prevention ambassadors,” Rue added “We encourage anyone who is part of a school or youth group, including junior high and high school classes, 4-H, FFA, Scouts, faith groups and other teen-serving organizations, to participate. Additionally, we hope that Montana adults in treatment and recovery will join this initiative.”

Businesses and landowners in communities where projects are happening are asked to donate art supplies and materials and offer public places for the art installations.

All artwork must be installed by June 30. Judging will take place over the summer, and the public will have the opportunity to vote online for the People’s Choice Award. The Meth Project will announce the winners in late summer. Register and learn more at PaintTheState.org.

Paint the State is entirely supported by private funding. Donors to date include the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation, Stockman Bank, Town Pump, the Gilhousen Family Foundation and Pennmont Foundation.

The Montana Meth Project is a large-scale prevention program aimed at reducing first-time teen meth use through public service messaging and community outreach.