Arts Access Fund poster contest

Information
Trumpet printed with the Arts Access Fund logo

For more than a decade, the Arts Access Fund, funded by Portlanders through the Arts Tax, has been guaranteeing access to an arts education for all of Portland’s elementary school students. In March 2025 we will be celebrating Arts in our Schools Month to share the importance of arts education in our schools. The winning selections will be displayed around Portland to help celebrate and share the impact of access to arts education on our City’s children. 

The Arts Access Fund Poster contest is for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade students to share the importance of arts education in their lives. 

Contest Theme:Arts for All of Us

Why is it important for kids to have access to arts in school? 

Participation Guidelines:

  • Open to any Portland Kindergarten-Fifth grade student attending a public school or public charter school in one of Portland’s six school districts (Centennial, David Douglas, Parkrose, PPS, Reynolds, and Riverdale)
  • Media: paint, crayon, felt pen, markers, cut paper, or any hand-held art tool. Students may not use a computer or someone else’s drawings. 
  • Posters must be a standard poster-board size, 22x28 inches.
  • Posters can be illustrated vertically or horizontally.
  • One entry per student. 
  • Posters must be submitted in JPEG or PDF format, minimum 300 dpi, using the entry form.

Judging Criteria:

  • Posters will be judged by members of Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture and local arts teachers. 
  • Two winners will be selected, one from grades K-2 and one from grades 3-5.
  • Posters will be judged on
    • Connection to the theme
    • Showing the importance of arts (visual, music, theater, and/or dance) education 
    • Creativity and originality
    • Visual Appeal (layout, color selection, organization)

Prizes:

  • Arts Supply Basket 
  • Posters displayed and used to promote Arts in our School Month in March 2025

Important Dates: 

  • Contest Opens: September 9, 2024
  • Poster Submittal Deadline: January 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PST)
  • Winners Announced: January 31, 2025

Submission:

Posters must be submitted in JPEG or PDF format, minimum 300 dpi, using this entry form