Official Poster Design Contest
Calling all Upstate NY artists—students, seasoned pros, and creative souls of every age! You do not have to identify as LGBTQIA+; allies are welcomed and encouraged to submit! We’re searching for the poster that will set the tone for this year’s Rochester Queer Arts Festival, held Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Village Gate Square. The winning design will appear on every staff T-shirt, headline our marketing, and be sold as limited-edition prints and tees—with profits donated to an LGBTQIA+ nonprofit of the artist’s choice.
Key Dates
Submission deadline: August 1, 2025
Winner announced: mid-August (via email and social media)
What’s in It for You
$250 cash award
Free atrium booth to sell your work at the festival
Festival-wide shout-outs plus a banner directing patrons to your booth
Creative Guidelines
Original, unpublished artwork only (no AI-generated content).
Visually celebrate the festival’s queer cultural spirit, with nods to queer joy in the face of the current climate.
Must include: “Rochester Queer Arts Festival,” October 11, 2025, and Village Gate Square, Rochester NY.
Size: 11 × 17 inches, vertical/portrait.
File specs: 300 dpi CMYK for print (RGB preview acceptable), PDF/JPG/PNG, 10–20 MB max.
Up to five entries per artist.
Free to enter.
By entering, you grant the festival a non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, and sell your design for promotional purposes—including merch that funds the nonprofit donation.
Ready to make your mark? Click below to submit your poster and share your artistry with thousands of festivalgoers!
Poster Submission Form