National Preservation Week Poster Contest

To Award Thousands In Prizes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Queen Anne schoolhouse or Romanesque campus, every historic school in the country has a chance to become famous. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is seeking entries for its National Historic Preservation Week 2001 poster contest. Cash awards of $2,000, $1,000, and $500 will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-prize winners. Deadline for entries is March 31, 2001.

“This is the first-ever Preservation Week poster contest,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust, which works to save diverse historic places and revitalize communities. “Preservation Week has always focused on grassroots preservation groups. We’re bringing that focus to a new level this year, encouraging schools and communities to enter the contest and gain national recognition for their efforts. Whether your school is endangered or has been saved, take this opportunity to show your support for local historic schools, our irreplaceable neighborhood anchors.”

Because of deferred maintenance, arbitrary policies that promote “mega-school sprawl,” and a mistaken belief that rehabilitation always costs more than new construction, these walkable, community-oriented schools are fast disappearing. Last year, historic neighborhood schools made the National Trust’s 2000 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places; the National Trust subsequently released Historic Neighborhood Schools in the Age of Sprawl: Why Johnny Can’t Walk to School, a report examining the challenges facing America’s older school buildings.

Time and again, preservation-savvy school districts have demonstrated that well-maintained and creatively rehabilitated older and historic schools can provide students with first-class educational facilities and, at the same time, help strengthen the fabric of the nation’s communities. These outstanding contributions deserve broader recognition.

To celebrate these successes – and raise awareness of still-threatened school buildings – the theme of National Historic Preservation Week 2001 is “Restore, Renew, Rediscover Your Historic Neighborhood Schools!” Preservation Week will be celebrated May 13 through 19.

The contest is open to non-profit groups, schools, school districts, and state and local governments involved in promoting the continued use of older and historic neighborhood schools as educational facilities.

Posters should reflect the enduring public values and unique contributions of the people who learn, teach, and play in older and historic neighborhood schools. They should also recognize how such buildings provide students with a unique and enriching educational setting, express civic pride, and help anchor traditional, walkable neighborhoods.

For full contest details and requirements, contact Rob Nieweg at 202/588-6107 or visit Preservation Week Online at www.nthp.org/preservationweek.

Sponsored annually by the National Trust, National Historic Preservation Week has been celebrated since 1971. The official Preservation Week poster is now available. E-mail pr@nthp.org or call 202/588-6125 to have one mailed to you. For tips on planning and promoting Preservation Week events, visit www.nationaltrust.org/preservationweek.

In 2001 the National Trust will present a special National Preservation Honor Award to recognize excellence in the rehabilitation of historic neighborhood schools. Nominated projects must involve a rehabilitated school(s) currently in use as an educational facility that provides a first-rate educational setting and helps to anchor the surrounding community. Winners will be honored at the National Preservation Conference in Providence, R.I., October 16 through 21, 2001. The nomination deadline is May 1, 2001. For a nomination form, please visit www.nationaltrust.org.

To read the National Trust report Historic Neighborhood Schools in the Age of Sprawl: Why Johnny Can’t Walk to School, visit www.nationaltrust.org. To purchase the Community Guide to Saving Older Schools or the Celebrating National Preservation Week in Your Community booklet, call 202/588-6296 or visit www.nthpbooks.org.