Pumpkin Festival launches poster design contest

The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival is looking for a few good artists. This year, for the first time, graphic artists will have the chance to compete to have their artwork featured in the world-famous festival’s promotional campaign by entering the first annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival Poster Design Contest.

The contest to select the winning design for the 2007 festival poster is a joint effort of the Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee, which runs the Pumpkin Festival, and the Coastal Arts League, a local non-profit that develops and supports local artistic talent. "We’re excited to be part of this grassroots effort," said Shirley Kellicutt, member of the Coastal Arts League and chair of the poster design contest committee, who conceived the idea. "It’s an opportunity for two community-based non-profit groups to work together on a fresh, new addition to both the Art & Pumpkin Festival and Coastal Arts League." Well-known coastside artists Gayton Arrigotti, Diane Burns, Arabella Decker and Patricia Keefe are also part of the contest committee and will help organize and publicize the contest.

Cameron Palmer, Beautification Committee Chairman, said the festival board was ready to try something different and embraced the concept of partnering with a local, arts-based non-profit which dovetails perfectly with the committee’s mission. "The contest will open up a universe of creative possibilities," he said. "We’re hopeful it will attract top artistic talent and take our graphics and design to a whole new level."

The contest is open to artists nationwide and will be marketed locally and nationally through graphic design schools, arts publications and the Internet. The winning entry will receive a $1,000 grand prize as well as significant exposure during the 2007 Pumpkin Festival season as the centerpiece on all promotional material. Additionally, $500 will be awarded for second place, $250 for third, and $125 for both fourth and fifth.

During the month of October 2006, accepted entries will be on display as part of a special show at the Coastal Arts League Gallery, 300 Main Street in Half Moon Bay. The submission deadline for the contest is August 31, 2006. Contest details, guidelines and entry forms are available online at www.coastalartsleague.com or www.miramarevents.com

You can also download the entry form from Coastsider.