The Heinz Ketchup Creativity™ Contest is back for the fifth year running, and Heinz is asking students to once again pour on their talent for a chance to receive exciting rewards and recognition in 2011, including their artwork appearing on millions of iconic Heinz^® Ketchup packets.

Over the past five years, the Heinz Ketchup Creativity Contest has generated more than 105,000 entries from thousands of schools nationwide. This year, the contest will celebrate the talent of 12 more budding artists, from grades K-1 through 12, and award one grand prize winner with a $5,700 cash prize. The grand prize winner also will have their artwork showcased on Heinz Ketchup bottles, scheduled to appear on store shelves in the 2011-2012 school year, and receive a visit at their school from world-renowned Pop artist Burton Morris.

Burton Morris and a panel of judges will select 36 finalists, three from each grade level. Through online voting at www.ketchupcreativity.com, America will have the opportunity to choose the 12 winners, one from each grade level. In addition to having their artwork displayed in the online Winners’ Gallery, the 12 winners’ artwork will appear on millions of Heinz Ketchup packets, and they’ll receive a $1,000 cash prize. The winners’ schools each will receive $1,000 toward art supplies, $1,000 worth of Heinz Ketchup, and a special awards ceremony, where they will be presented with a framed poster of their winner’s artwork.

The contest kit and lesson plans can be downloaded at KetchupCreativity.com. Entries can be submitted from January 12 through March 4. Online voting for the winners will run April 4 through April 11, and the winners will be publicly announced in April. Last year, the grand prize winner was third grader Jordan De La Rosa of Texas (his work is below).