The deadline to enter and submit artwork for the 38th Annual California Strawberry Festival Artwork Contest is Friday, Jan. 12.
The artist with the winning strawberry-themed design will receive $2,000 and VIP tickets to the festival, which takes place May 18-19 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
This is the first artwork contest since 2020, when the pandemic resulted in the cancellation of that year’s festival.
“Kimberly Duran’s winning artwork from 2020 was adopted as the theme for the 2023 festival,” said Dean Kato, California Strawberry Festival Board president. “We’re excited to bring back this popular contest after four years; it’s something the community really enjoys.”
Entries will be evaluated by a judging panel looking for creativity and the best use of a strawberry design. The winning design may be used in printed and digital advertising collateral, as well as on souvenir merchandise.
Artists should keep in mind that judges may give preference to artwork that will print well on promotional items like t-shirts.
Artists can create their designs in a variety of mediums — digital, oils, watercolors, inks, pencil, photograph, and mixed media. Entries must be 16 1/2 inches wide by 17 inches high.
Artwork should be scanned or photographed and submitted digitally through the festival website. Uploaded files should be of the highest quality possible in .jpg or .png format. Artists may be contacted by the festival for access to the original work.
Multiple entries by a single artist will be accepted. There is no fee to enter.
The winner will be notified around the second week of February, and will be the guest of honor at a March luncheon when the design will be revealed to media, dignitaries, and festival sponsors.
The winning original design and all rights of the winning design will become the property of the California Strawberry Festival.
Visit www.castrawberryfestival.org for artwork contest rules and entry form.
