OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Oak Ridge Rotary Club and Roane State teamed up for their 20th annual street painting festival in Jackson Square on Saturday to raise funds for student scholarships.
Between 70 and 80 artists from surrounding regions came together to support the cause by painting colorful squares of the sidewalk.
Artists of all skill sets could choose to either work solo or paint in groups for a variety of themed categories including a new STEAM challenge.
"In Oak Ridge, we're conceived in science here. We have a big background in science and art," said Jim Dodson, Art Educator at Oak Ridge Schools. "I know that we have somebody who is actually doing a drawing of Albert Einstein."
Oak Ridge School District is ranked number one in Tennessee and incorporates STEAM into its curriculum.
"This is why Oak Ridge is very generous and we support education and that's where the emphasis [of the event] is on scholarship and higher education for all," said Dr. Elaine Bunick, Foundation Chair for Oak Ridge Rotary Club.
Sponsors donate an average of $10,000 to $15,000 for Roane State scholarships every year.