Get creative with Geneva's 'Art on Fire' contest

Geneva residents can grab a paintbrush and bring their artistic creativity into the community this spring by participating in the city's "Art on Fire" hydrant design program.

The city, in collaboration with the Cultural Arts Commission, is seeking artists to adopt and paint fire hydrants throughout Geneva.

More than 90 hydrants have been painted the past six years as part of "Art on Fire."

Many residents and visitors have taken notice of the artwork in the downtown and surrounding areas.

Established by Mayor Kevin Burns in 2013, the program is a way to showcase Geneva's artistic talent and bring art into the community.

The program is free and open to the public, but participants must submit an application to the city by Friday, May 10.

The application can be found on the city's website at www.geneva.il.us or picked up at Geneva City Hall, 22 S. First St.

"Art on Fire" does not mandate a specific theme, but the program encourages artists to incorporate the character of the hydrant's surrounding environment into their design.

City staff reviews and approves all application designs to make sure they do not compromise the visibility of the hydrants for firefighters in an emergency.

Artists will be allowed to paint their hydrants during May and June.

The city's Public Arts Advisory Committee and Cultural Arts Commission will again judge the hydrants and award prizes to the top three design winners this summer.

People can take a virtual tour of all the decorated hydrants on an interactive map posted on the city's website at www.geneva.il.us.

The map will be updated this summer to include all the 2019 submissions.