Pinellas Students Create Beachy Artwork For License Plates

CLEARWATER, FL - Mermaids, dolphins and even cats on the beach are a few of the designs 2,000 Pinellas County fifth-graders created for license plates for the front bumper.

The creations are part of Kids Tag Art Pinellas, a partnership between the Pinellas County Tax Collector's Office, Pinellas County Schools and community sponsors to raise funds for art education. This school year, Kids Tag Art Pinellas will raise more than $100,000 in donations for classroom art supplies, art-themed field trips and college scholarships.

The metal vanity tags cost $15 each plus $3.50 shipping and handling. They can be purchased online at www.kidstagartpinellas.org. The deadline to buy a tag in time for the holidays is Thursday, Nov. 30. Tags will continue to be on sale online through the end of the school year.

Fifth-graders from 43 Pinellas County schools designed the license plates during art classes. More than half of participating schools are Title I-designated schools with a high percentage of children from low-income families.

Kids Tag Art gives participating art teachers approximately $800 each school year. Teachers receive extra funds for each tag sold online. An additional $1 from every tag sold is donated to St. Petersburg College Foundation's "I AM 4 ART, U CAN B 2" Scholarship Fund for fine arts majors.

"Art is all about giving children the power of creativity,” Pinellas County Tax Collector Charles W. Thomas said. “Kids Tag Art Pinellas is our creative solution to help schools provide quality supplies in art classrooms.

"Teachers often go out of their own pockets to buy school supplies,” Thomas said. “ Kids Tag Art Pinellas helps us ease that financial strain so art teachers can focus on what they do best - inspiring children."

In addition to funding arts education, Kids Tag Art Pinellas is also a juried art competition. Retired Pinellas County art teachers select winning artists

from each school. The winning artists are then invited to an awards ceremony on Jan. 18, 2018 in Largo, where they will be recognized.

Kids Tag Art is made possible by community sponsors, including Platinum Sponsor Baystar Restaurant Group, Sunshine State Tag Agency, Tag Agency of Pinellas, Dex Imaging, Direct Mail Systems, Bill 2 Pay, D Print, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Freedom Boat Club and Lauren's Kids.

For those interested in becoming a sponsor or making a donation, visit www.kidstagartpinellas.org.

Flamingos are featured on one of the vanity tags.

Photo via Pinellas County Tax Collector