Columbia America 250 Poster Design Competition
Columbia seeks artists to design a commemorative poster celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. $1,000 award.
Columbia is inviting artists to create a commemorative poster for 2026 celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is a unique opportunity for artists to have their work featured both locally and nationally as part of the America 250 celebration.
The winning design will receive a $1,000 award and the right to reproduce the artwork for the poster. The selected design will be unveiled at the Celebration of the Arts later in 2026. The mayor will select one design to be displayed locally and nationally, and the official poster will be available for purchase throughout the year.
Artists are encouraged to incorporate imagery that celebrates Columbia's local history, highlights civic pride, and reflects optimism for the future. All designs must include the words "Columbia, MO" or "Columbia, Missouri" and "America 250." Artists can either integrate these words into their artwork or collaborate with the city's graphic design team to add them to the final poster design.
The winning design will be submitted to the America 250 City Art Poster Project, which is administered by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts. This provides an excellent opportunity for artists to gain national recognition and exposure for their work.
Full guidelines and eligibility information are available online at CoMo.gov/cultural-affairs/call-for-artists. Artists interested in participating should review these guidelines carefully before submitting their work.