Design Artwork for a San Mateo County Park Poster

The San Mateo County Parks Foundation seeks three professional or emerging artists to design posters for three of the 24 San Mateo County Parks in celebration of the Parks Foundation's 25th anniversary and San Mateo County Parks' centennial. Selected artists will each receive a $2,500 commission, paid in two installments ($1,000 upfront and $1,500 upon completion). The three parks are: Memorial Park, a popular camping spot in the redwoods with Pescadero Creek; Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, known for its rocky seashore and marine life; and Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, famous for spring wildflower displays. Each poster design must capture the essence of its assigned park and include recognizable landmarks or park features. Final posters will be 11"x17" and vertical. Unifying design details will be incorporated into each design, including consistent border size and the park's name and San Mateo County Parks Foundation's name in a consistent font at the bottom.

Submissions must be received by July 14, 2023 at 10:59 PM PST. The entry fee is $15.00 (non-refundable). Applicants must submit 6-8 images, an artist statement (limited to two pages), a resume/CV, and at least three references from past projects. The artist statement should address your interest in the specific project, professional and artistic qualifications, aesthetic direction for the poster, experience with poster design, approach to developing the project, ability to work collaboratively, and any other differentiating factors. All mediums except photography are eligible; final artwork must be submitted electronically and designs must translate well to a poster, with saturated colors preferred.

A jury of five members (1 Parks Foundation board member, 2 Parks staff, and 2 local arts professionals) will review applications and select several artists for informal interviews in late July 2023. Selected artists will be notified in early August and will meet with staff to discuss project goals and criteria. Artists should expect to engage in back-and-forth collaboration with staff. Final artwork must be submitted electronically by October 2023 (exact date to be determined). Final submitted artwork becomes the property of the San Mateo County Parks Foundation, which reserves the right to use it in future marketing efforts and for possible reproduction in other formats. Eligibility is open to all professional and emerging artists 18 years and older who are legally able to work in the United States, with priority given to those who live or work in San Mateo County, followed by Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma counties. Ineligible applicants include jury members and their immediate family, Parks Foundation staff and board members, San Mateo County elected or appointed officials, and San Mateo County Parks staff. A Zoom check-in for potential applicants is scheduled for June 20, 2023; interested artists should email [email protected] for the meeting link.