Roll Out the Barrels

Thank you ROTB web banner

2021 was our must successful year yet, with sixteen one-of-a-kind painted rain barrels bringing in $8,570!

We would like to send out an enormous THANK YOU to everyone who placed a bid and shared the event with friends or family. Participating artists will receive a commission from their barrel sale, and remaining funds go directly to the ACC Green Schools Program.

Thank you, Athens, for your support of local art, water conservation, and environmental education!

Additional thanks to the artists who spent time designing and painting the barrels, the Athens-Clarke County Water Conservation Office and Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful for helping plan the event, and the Lyndon House Arts Center for providing the perfect home for the barrels while they were on display.

What is Roll Out the Barrels?

Roll Out the Barrels is an annual event (typically held in May) that raises awareness of stormwater runoff, water pollution, and water conservation, all while promoting local artists and supporting environmental education. Local artists turn ordinary, 55-gallon rain barrels into beautiful pieces of functional art to be auctioned off in support of the Athens Green School Program, an initiative to ensure environmental education is taught in the classroom. Since the first event in 2011, Roll Out the Barrels has raised over $30,000 for local artists and environmental education.

Roll Out the Barrels 2019 barrels on display

Why Rain Barrels?

Water pollution is a serious problem in Athens-Clarke County and green infrastructure, such as rain barrels and other rainwater harvesters, are an important component in addressing that problem. Rain barrels are easy to install and can be used to protect water by both reducing stormwater runoff and reducing the need to pull from city water supplies for lawn-care and car washing.

Contact stormwater@accgov.com for more information. This event is organized annually by the ACCGov Stormwater Management Program, the Water Conservation Office, and Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful.

ROTB 2017
proud barrel owners
Roll Out the Barrels 2019