Chattanooga: Poster Design Suite From Public Art Chattanooga

Applications close in 6 days

  • Type: Competition
  • Geography: National
  • Submission Deadline: April 24, 2026 @ 11:59PM (America - New York)
  • Submission limit: 6 pieces
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OVERVIEW
The City of Chattanooga’s Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy is seeking artist/graphic design qualifications for a design suite for City of Chattanooga produced America 250 events. Three individual event posters (Democracy Speaks, Pops on the River and Hamilton in the Round) as well as an overarching poster celebrating these events plus the mayor’s (city and county) finale celebration. This opportunity is open to all professional artists and designers over the age of 18 who currently reside in the United States.

PROJECT BACKGROUND:
America 250’s mission is to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial. We aim to inspire our fellow Americans to reflect on our past, strengthen our love of country, and renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy through programs that educate, engage, and unite us as a nation. America 250 will foster shared experiences that spark imagination, showcase the rich tapestry of our American stories, inspire service in our communities, honor the enduring strength, and celebrate the resilience of the United States of America.

The Tennessee America 250 Commission promotes an inclusive statewide celebration and educational commemoration of America’s 250th by interpreting and preserving Tennessee’s unique stories, objects, landmarks, and places across our diverse state that defined who we are as Tennesseans and Americans. Tennessee’s America 250 Commission, a twelve-member body chaired by Ashley Howell, Tennessee State Museum, includes Tennessee State Senator Todd Gardenhire and three other members of the Tennessee General Assembly along with members representing the Tennessee Historical Commission and other related bodies.

ARTWORK VISION:
The design approach should be inspired by the histories, values, and aspirations that define Chattanooga and its people, while also reflecting the unique character of each featured event. Artists are encouraged to draw from local narratives, past and present, to create a cohesive design suite that captures the spirit, resilience, and diversity of the community.

Each component should respond to its specific context: Hamilton in the Round at Renaissance Park as a shared, open-air cultural experience; Pops on the River at Coolidge Park as a celebratory gathering rooted in music, tradition, and spectacle; and Democracy Speaks, developed in collaboration with Rhyme N Chatt, as an intimate and reflective poetry trail amplifying local voices. While each design should stand on its own, the full suite should feel visually connected and unified.
Collectively, the work should honor Chattanooga’s cultural landscape; its people, places, and stories while connecting to broader American themes of democracy, civic participation, and collective memory. Through thoughtful and compelling visuals, the designs should invite reflection, foster connection, and celebrate the many voices and experiences that shape both the city and the nation.


ARTWORK GOALS:
 The artwork goals will be further refined by the selected artist in collaboration with the City of Chattanooga’s Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy:

  • Establish a cohesive visual identity for Chattanooga’s America 250 programming that connects multiple events under a unified creative vision
  • Reflect the unique character, energy, and setting of each event: Hamilton in the Round, Pops on the River, Democracy Speaks  and an all events poster while maintaining an overall sense of continuity
  • Thematically represent Chattanooga’s histories, values, and aspirations, connecting local stories to broader national themes of democracy, civic participation, and collective memory
  • Celebrate the city’s cultural vibrancy by elevating music, storytelling, and shared public experiences as central to the America 250 commemoration
  • Create compelling and memorable visual moments that inspire community pride, invite participation, and resonate with diverse audiences across Chattanooga.
ARTWORK/DESIGN PARAMETERS:
All design materials must be developed for high-quality reproduction across a range of formats, including print and digital applications. The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to produce or substantially generate visual content is not permitted. AI may not be used to create final artwork, imagery, or compositions included in the design suite. Final deliverables should be adaptable for various scales and uses, including posters, promotional materials, and digital platforms.

Designs should maintain strong visual clarity and impact in both large- and small-format applications, with careful consideration given to typography, color, and accessibility. All work must align with City of Chattanooga branding guidelines and be suitable for use in highly visible public-facing contexts.

Selected artists will be expected to deliver final files in industry-standard formats, prepared for production and distribution. Designs should be original, free of copyright restrictions, and appropriate for broad public audiences.

PROJECT SCOPE

Budget:
The total project budget is $2,000. This amount serves as an all-inclusive artist fee for the development and delivery of a cohesive design suite supporting Chattanooga’s America 250 events. The budget covers all costs associated with concept development, design, revisions, and preparation of final files for production across print and digital platforms. No additional funds are available.

Projected Project Timeline:
April 2026: Concept Development Phase, including initial design concepts and presentation to the selection panel for feedback
May 2026: Final Design Development and Approval, including refinement of selected concept.
May  2026: Submission of final, production-ready files

Deliverables:
Develop and present initial design concept(s) for the full suite, including visual direction that reflects all three events and overall America 250 programming

Incorporate feedback from the selection panel and City staff to refine and finalize the selected design direction

Deliver a cohesive design suite, including individual designs for Democracy Speaks, Pops on the River, and Hamilton in the Round, as well as an overarching design tying the series together

Provide final, production-ready files in industry-standard formats suitable for print and digital use

Provide organized working files and basic design specifications (color, typography, layout) to support implementation across platforms.

Award Info:

$2,000

Eligibility Criteria:

Eligibility:
This call is open to all professional artists and graphic designers, including artist teams, age 18 and older, currently residing in the United States. Designers with strong ties to Chattanooga and the surrounding region are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline:
Applications must be received via the online portal, Artwork Archive, no later than April 24, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. ET. No exceptions.

Evaluation Criteria:
In preparing responses, applicants should demonstrate how they propose to meet the goals and scope outlined in this solicitation. Panelists will use the following criteria in the selection process:
  •  Demonstrates artistic excellence, creativity, and originality as evidenced in past design work and supporting materials 
  •  Demonstrates strong graphic design skills, including the ability to create cohesive visual systems and adaptable designs across print and digital platforms 
  •  Demonstrates capacity to translate themes, narratives, and event-specific concepts into compelling visual designs appropriate to the project goals 
  •  Demonstrates ability to create distinct yet unified designs that respond to multiple events while maintaining an overall visual identity 
  •  Demonstrates experience working collaboratively with clients, partners, or stakeholders, and the ability to incorporate feedback into the design process 
  •  Demonstrates experience successfully completing projects of similar scope, budget, and timeline, or the ability to clearly articulate how they will meet project expectations 
  •  Demonstrates interest in and sensitivity to Chattanooga’s cultural landscape, with the ability to reflect local stories and connect them to broader national themes 
  •  Is available to complete the scope of work in a timely and professional manner, as outlined in the project timeline 
  •  Contributes to the diversity of artistic perspectives represented through the City’s arts and culture initiatives 
  •  If applying as a team, demonstrates a clear and cohesive approach to collaboration

Application Requirements:

Selection Process:
An artwork selection panel consisting of five (3) to nine (5) members  will evaluate all viable applications.

SCORING
The minimum criteria that will be applied to the proposal information, in order to assist the City in selecting the most qualified artist(s) for the contract, are as follows:
  1. Applicants will be awarded up to 80 points for Competency for the Scope of Work (Past Work Samples & CV/Resume). 
  2. Applicants will be awarded up to 20 points for demonstrated local creative economic impact (artists who live or work in the Chattanooga, Thrive region: the surrounding 16 counties across northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia, and southeast Tennessee), or artists’ use of local team members or suppliers for an overall project budget re-investment of at least 50% returned to the local economy.
Artist award will be determined based on the selection panel’s evaluation and highest scoring of submissions based on the criteria outlined above. 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

These materials are required for your submission to be considered:
  1. Confirm completion of City of Chattanooga supplier registration: https://chattanooga.gov/business/supplier-portal#toc-how-to-register-as-a-prospective-supplier. 

  2. Current Résumé/CV for each team member (two-page limit).

  3. Relevant past work samples.  You may submit a maximum of six images.

  4. List of professional references (at least one):  Please include name, address, phone number, and email address for each individual. 

Rules and Terms:

  • The City of Chattanooga  accepts no responsibility for the loss or damage of artist submission materials.
  • The City of Chattanooga acceipts no responsibility for costs incurred by the artist in responding to this Call to Artists.
  • Selected artists/teams will be required to meet contract terms and scopes.
  • It is further understood that there are no additional and/or contingency funds available.
  • Respondents to this Call to Artists agree to abide by the terms and conditions of this Call.
  • No submitted materials will be returned.
  •  Artists retain copyright of their submitted designs. By submitting, artists grant the City of Chattanooga a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use submitted designs and proposal materials for review and promotional purposes.
  • The selected (winning) artist agrees to grant the City of Chattanooga a royalty-free license to reproduce, distribute, and use the final design for posters, merchandise, and related promotional materials.

Contact

For questions about the application itself (application requirements, terms, etc), please contact us directly at [email protected]

For questions or issues with the application process (setting up an account, submitting to the call, login issues, etc), please contact Artwork Archive or call 720-900-5506

Public Art Chattanooga