The Tshirt Design Contest for the 53rd Mountain Fair is Now Open!

2023 winner, Riley Hutchens

The 53rd Annual Carbondale Mountain Fair poster design contest is now open and our theme this year is…drumroll, please: “This Must Be The Place: feet on the ground, head in the sky”! Yes, it's a shameless nod to the song by the Talking Heads, but it's also a celebration of that ineffable feeling that has settled over so many of us who live here that we've found our home, our community, and nestled up against our mighty mother Mt. Sopris!

Interested artists should:
• Interpret this theme however you are called to, remembering that the spirit of The Carbondale Mountain Fair is ultimately a celebration of who we all are together in community.
• Submit a well-developed concept (vertical or square format preferred over landscape) along with at least 3 work samples that show a similar style as to how you would plan to finish the final design.
• Handmade and digital entries are welcome; any non-digital entries submitted should have the artist's name and contact info on the back.

Here are some helpful tips:
1) Be sure your entry uses well defined lines and shapes so that the jury can easily see the artwork and how it might transfer to a digital design

2) We recommend your entry be designed in color as it helps the jury to envision the poster and shirt

3) Consider avoiding very tiny details which may not read well on a screen printed shirt

Artists who have won in the past may enter the contest again after 5 years have passed (ie: if you won in 2020, you can enter again in 2025).

A jury selects the winning design and our team works with the finalist to create the poster and t-shirt. Winner will be announced in April and receives $750 and five Mountain Fair t-shirts!

Submissions due by April 1. Send your images and questions to Brian Colley: brian@carbondalearts.com.