Philadelphia - America 250 City Art Poster Contest
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CALL FOR ART: Philadelphia America 250 City Art Poster Contest Total Prizes: $10,000
Deadline: December 20, 2025
Presented by Creative Philadelphia in partnership with the Office of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker Next year marks America’s Semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In recognition of this historic milestone, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, has launched the America 250 City Art Poster Project. As the birthplace of the nation, Philadelphia is proud to participate—inviting local artists to design a commemorative poster that reflects the spirit, pride, and future of our city. The winning artwork will represent Philadelphia on the national stage throughout 2026.
PRIZES A total of $10,000 will be awarded across three tiers: Grand Prize – $5,000
- Designated as the official Philadelphia America 250 Poster
- Displayed at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting (Washington, D.C., January 2026)
- Displayed at the Annual Meeting (Long Beach, CA, June 2026)
- Published in national America 250 print and digital books
- Eligible for display in civic buildings, libraries, parks, cultural venues, and more
Second Prize – $3,000
- Recognized as a City Finalist
- Eligible for local Philadelphia displays
- Included in select promotional materials
Third Prize – $2,000
- Recognized as a City Finalist
- Eligible for local Philadelphia displays
- Included in select promotional materials
ELIGIBILITY
This contest is open to:
- Philadelphia residents who identify as amateur or professional artists
- Creatives of any discipline, working in any visual medium
Applicants must reside within the City of Philadelphia at the time of submission. There is no entry fee.
THEME
Artists are invited to create a poster that:
- Commemorates America 250 in a positive and inspiring way
- Highlights Philadelphia’s history, culture, and identity
- Reflects civic pride and national optimism
- Imagines a hopeful future for the next 250 years
Posters must not include political messages or inflammatory language. Each poster must incorporate:
- “Philadelphia”
- “America 250”
ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS
- Must be original artwork not previously publicly exhibited, suitable for public display, reproduction, and large-scale exhibition
- Medium: Any visual art medium (digital, illustration, painting, mixed media, collage, etc.)
- Artwork size: live area 24 inch width x 32 inch height; with bleed 24.5 x 32.5; include bleed on all 4 sides
- Preferred file format: PDF Only; 300 DPI at 100% scale; Color Mode: CMYK (4 - color process - convert all RGB images and spot colors to CMYK)
- Orientation: Vertical; USCM will place the submitte artwork into an official branded poster template. The template includes a standardized 4-inch black branding bar at the bottom containing the NEA, USCM & America 250 logo. Your artwork will be placed above the black bar.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
All submissions are due by: December 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM (ET) SELECTION PROCESS
- Creative Philadelphia will conduct an initial eligibility and quality review.
- The Office of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker will select the Grand Prize winner.
- One official poster will be submitted to the U.S. Conference of Mayors for national showcase.