Ready to see your art hit the road? Time is running out.
The Oklahoma Zoological Society has launched a design contest for a new specialty license plate in honor of the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Feb. 21.
They're asking for talented Oklahoma-based artists to submit their original design for a license plate representing the OKC Zoo. The contest's winning design will become an official Oklahoma license plate that will help raise awareness, funds, and support for the OKC Zoo's mission.
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"We're excited about this campaign and engaging our state's talented artists to help inspire action for the OKC Zoo," said Mandy Heaps, OZS executive director.
The OKC Zoo cares for more than 1,000 individual animals and nearly 330 species from around the world. Contest entries should be original illustrations that artistically showcase the OKC Zoo's current animal family, including anticipated additions such as African penguins coming in spring 2027 as part of the Shore to Sea exhibit that will also house California sea lions and harbor seals.
Artists are encouraged to highlight Zoo wildlife that aren't currently represented in existing Oklahoma license plates. License plates designed to support other organizations already feature bison (Oklahoma Conservation Commission), monarch butterflies (Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma) and giraffes (Tulsa Zoo).
"(Specialty) license plates are extremely popular and we know that people take pride in acknowledging a favorite cause or organization, and soon, they will have the opportunity to support our beloved zoo," Heaps said. "We hope this effort provides ongoing support for the zoo while creating a fun cause that generations of fans can get behind."
The Oklahoma Zoological Society will form a selection committee to review all art submissions and select designs ahead of the semi-finalist round. Later this spring, the public will have an opportunity to vote on the final list of selected designs and choose their favorite to become an official Oklahoma license plate for the OKC Zoo.
The winning license plate design will be revealed by May 1 and which will be available to the public for purchase at a later date.
For contest guidelines and rules and to upload official art submissions, visit www.ozsgiving.org/platecontest. Contest entries will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 21.