Lahaina Town was packed for the 2010 Fourth of July fireworks show. Photo by Norm Bezane.

LAHAINA — Reaching out to the island art community, the Maui Chamber of Commerce and its West Side Committee are launching a contest for artwork to be used for official T-shirts and promotional materials for Maui’s Fourth of July fireworks celebration.

The winning artist will receive $1,000 for use of the artwork.

The contest is the latest addition to Fourth of July festivities and a color-filled fireworks display in Lahaina.

It is part of the chamber’s community campaign to raise $50,000 for the fireworks and other surprises.

“This is a community event that draws people from across the island, and we are hoping the entire art community — especially artists from West Maui — will embrace this opportunity,” said chamber President Pamela Tumpap.

“The contest is open to all ages and all artists, whether they draw, color, paint or create their works of art on a computer,” she added.

As the artwork is primarily for the 2011 official event T-shirt, designs should work well for shirt printing.

“Many visitors and residents enjoy collecting these T-shirts,” Tumpap noted. “It is a fun way to highlight

and share Maui’s wonderful artists with the community and visitors and to make this July 4th memorable for years to come.”

The contest runs from now until Friday, May 20, at 4:30 p.m. Submit entries via e-mail to info@mauichamber.com.

Entries should include the subject line “4th of July Artwork,” with the art submitted in jpeg format and suitable for use in printing.

Contestants can use as many as four colors in their designs for printing on white T-shirts.

Members of the Maui Chamber of Commerce will judge the entries and vote in an Internet survey.

As entries come in, they will be displayed on the chamber’s website with recognition of the artist. In addition to the prize money, the artist will be invited to meet the public at the big Fourth of July celebration (to see colorful scenes from last year’s celebration in Lahaina, go to youtube.com and search “Support Maui’s 4th Fireworks.”

Plans call for the original artwork to be sold through an online auction to benefit the 2012 Fourth of July Fireworks in Lahaina.

For more information on contributing, go to the YouTube page or call the Maui Chamber of Commerce at 244-0081.