LOUISVILLE, Ky. — TARC buses in Louisville will soon have a more vibrant look. For the first time, TARC and the Kentucky Derby Festival's Foundation combined their annual art contests into a special partnership.

What You Need To Know

  • KDF and TARC combine art contests for student artists

  • Winners in grades K-12 will have their artwork featured on buses

  • The bus will debut at the Pegasus Parade

  • The artwork will be displayed on the buses for a year

Art from local students will decorate the buses this spring. 

Artists in grades K-12 were asked to think back on the challenges of 2020 and the changes they made in their daily routines; choose a word using the prefix "Re" (e.g. Re-imagine, Re-start, Rebuild, etc.); and then create a picture based on the word. The goal is for the art to share a message of optimism for the future. 

“It’s been inspiring to see how these students turned their reflections from this past year into art,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO in a news release. “TARC is really helping us showcase their talents and messages in a whole new way. We hope everyone gets a chance to see them.”

Winners in each category will have their creations displayed on a TARC bus for a year. The bus will be unveiled as part of this year's Zoeller Pump Touring Pegasus Parade on April 10 and 11. The parade is traveling through various communities this year. 

There were more than 250 entries this year. Winners in each age group were chosen by judges and community choice. 

Judges Choice Winners:

  • Aaliyah P.-Wilkerson Elementary
  • Bodi W.- Floyds Knobs Elementary
  • Farran L- Presentation Academy
  • Kate H.- Christian Academy of Louisville, Southwest
  • Kayla L.- Semple Elementary
  • Keller H.- Saint Agnes
  • Lucy S.- Saint Agnes
  • Madelyn G.- St. Michael School
  • Meagan B.- St Michael School
  • Mia L.- Pleasure Ridge Park High School
  • Peyton S.- Jefferson County Traditional Middle School
  • Shelby H.- Presentation Academy
  • Sydney K.- Klondike Lane Elementary
  • Verily W.- Fairdale Elementary
  • Brittani B.- Wilkerson Elementary

Community Choice Winners:

  • Alannah D.-Laukhuf Elementary
  • Isabella Y. — Western Middle School for the Arts
  • Aubrey H.-St. Margaret Mary
  • Victoria P.- Brandeis Elementary
  • Lauren T.- Brandeis Elementary
  • Catherine P.-Presentation Academy
  • Claire S.- Eastside Middle
  • Cooper D.- St. Margaret Mary
  • Emily G.- Wilkerson Elementary
  • Gabe S.- St. Michael School
  • Gracie K.- Presentation Academy
  • John J.- Semple Elementary
  • Juliet C.-Saint Agnes
  • Leo S.- St. Margaret Mary
  • Madeline F.-Presentation Academy
  • Melani S.- Wilkerson Elementary
  • Olivia H.- Jefferson County Traditional Middle 
  • Rafael M.- Dupont Manual High School
  • Sicilia G.- Presentation Academy
  • Sylvia M.- Coral Ridge Elementary
  • Kylie M.- St. Michael School 
  • Rhea P.- Brandeis Elementary

In the news release, TARC's executive director Carrie Butler said, "I’m so impressed with the level of creativity we’ve seen this year. We are very excited that the entire community will have an opportunity to see the great work of our young people as it travels throughout Greater Louisville.”

The student winners and their teachers will be contacted this month on how to pick up their winning art, as well as see and take pictures with the 2021 Design A Bus with their artwork. 

Related Stories