2020 Census Poster Contest

The City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) invite Santa Clara County college students to submit original poster designs around the Everyone Counts 2020 Census theme. Up to 5 designs will be selected to run as 2020 Census advertisements on VTA operated buses, trains, and transit real estate. The purpose of this design contest is to educate and motivate people living in Santa Clara County to take part in the 2020 Census and to engage local college students around the 2020 Census while providing professional development training.

Artists whose designs are selected as finalists will receive an honorarium of $750. Up to 5 artworks may be selected for honorable mention. Selected designs will be reproduced in various formats including bus and light rail posters, station posters, digital signs, car cards, bus bench ads, and big belly cans. Designs should appeal to a diverse public and provide information on multiple ways to complete the 2020 Census (online, by phone, by mail, or via in-person visit). All designs must incorporate "Everyone Counts!" and "¡Todos Cuentan!" along with www.2020census.gov. Each submission must include horizontal (3:1 ratio), vertical (2:3 ratio), and square (1:1 ratio) formats as jpg files not exceeding 5 MB. If selected, a vector image with 300dpi resolution will be required for printing.

Eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled at a public or nonprofit college or university in Santa Clara County, at least 18 years of age as of November 21, 2019, and submit original artwork. Only one submission per individual is allowed. Designs must be non-partisan and adhere to VTA's advertising policy, which prohibits demeaning or disparaging content, profanity, violence, unlawful goods or services, obscenity or nudity, prurient sexual suggestiveness, alcohol, firearms, tobacco or marijuana promotion, false or misleading content, defamatory, political, religious, or adverse content. Applications are due by 11:59 PM PST on November 21, 2019. Notification of selected artworks will be December 13, 2019, with high resolution artwork due December 20, 2019. Artwork installation is scheduled for late February 2020, with an award ceremony in March 2020.