MARYSVILLE — The Marysville Diversity Advisory Committee and the Marysville Arts Coalition are teaming up to conduct the city’s first-ever diversity art contest.

The contest is open to all youth and adults in the Marysville and Tulalip areas starting March 27. One entry is allotted per person and is restricted to traditional two-dimensional artwork.

The contest is divided into the following divisions:

• Division I — Pre-school to second grade.

• Division II — Third through fifth grade.

• Division III — Sixth through eighth grade.

• Division IV — Ninth through 12th grade.

• Division V — Adults 18 years and older.

All artwork submitted must fit the theme “Diversity Works: Sharing Similarities, Celebrating Differences.” Entries need to include the entrant’s name, mailing address, home phone, email address, and additionally for youth, their age, grade, parent’s name and school name. The entry deadline is 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2.

Contest prizes include a $25 gift card and ribbon for each division winner, and a grand prize worth up to $300 selected from among the division winners, and announced at a multicultural fair in the works, replete with art, music, dance and food, scheduled for this September in Comeford Park, where all the artwork will be displayed.

The contest is aimed at helping spread diversity in the community through art. The Diversity Committee, which developed the contest with support from the Arts Coalition, was established in November of 2010 by Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring, to help identify issues and prioritize support for the community concerning diversity and inclusion.

For more information on the contest or the committee, contact city Public Information Officer Doug Buell by phone at 360-363-8086 or via e-mail at dbuell@marysvillewa.gov. You can also log onto http://marysvillewa.gov/diversity.