2026 Taos Is Art Spring Banner Competition by Taos Arts Council and Town of Taos

The Town of Taos, and the Taos Arts Council are seeking Taos County artists' artwork for a lamp post banner project that will be on view within the Town of Taos from approximately early spring through late summer, exact dates to be determined in conjunction with the Town of Taos.

We are seeking entries from a broad range of disciplines to represent diverse and inclusive creative endeavors from Taos County. Images chosen by a blind jury will be reproduced and displayed visually on a banner. Examples of media include but are not limited to: painting, pottery, sculpture, printmaking, photography, projection and installation, glass, jewelry, metalwork, fiber art, performing arts such as dance, theatre, music, etc., and other non-traditional media.

2026 "Taos is Art" Spring/Summer Banner Competition by the Town of Taos and Taos Arts Council

CALL FOR ENTRIES: RULES & ENTRY INFORMATION

Description

In order to highlight Taos as an arts destination; celebrate and support the rich diversity of our community and the abundant creativity of our artists; give visibility to those who may not normally receive representation; and delineate and beautify the Historic District – the Town of Taos and the Taos Arts Council are seeking images of Taos County artists' work for a lamp post banner campaign that will be on view within the Town of Taos from approximately early spring through late summer, exact dates to be determined in conjunction with the Town of Taos. It is our goal to feature a diverse and inclusive group of artists currently living and working within Taos County.

Discipline, Media

We continue to welcome and encourage diverse and inclusive images of art that represent any artistic discipline or medium that can be photographed and displayed visually on a banner. Examples include, but are not limited to: painting, pottery, sculpture, printmaking, photography, projection and installation, glass, jewelry, metalwork, fiber art, performing arts such as dance, theatre, music, and other non-traditional media.

Requirements

Entrants must be artists at least 18 years of age, currently living and working in Taos County. Work must have been produced within the last 5 years and cannot be a duplicate of a winning entry from a prior "Taos is Art" banner competition. Recent work is strongly encouraged. Each individual artist or their representative may enter a total of one (1) piece, with one (1) image. A group may enter one (1) piece that they've worked on collectively, under one (1) collective name.

It is the artist's responsibility to secure in writing any and all rights to publish their image, if required, PRIOR to submission. In the event that those publishing rights are not in place for a selected work, the image will be disqualified and replaced by another artist's work.

Entry Info

The Call for Entry will open on January 30, 2026, and close on February 13, 2026.

Selection of winning images will take place via a blind jury process within approximately 3-5 days after closing, and winners will be notified as soon as practical afterward (approximately 1-3 days).

All entries must be submitted through the CaFE website (https://www.callforentry.org).

Log on to https://www.callforentry.org to enter the Banner Competition. Applicants will first need to create an account/artist profile, which is free. Once a profile is completed, artists can enter the Banner Competition. There is a $35 application fee for the submission. The fee includes a $33 fee to offset expenses for the banner project, and a $2 addition to fund any replacement banners due to loss, damage, or similar. 

As part of the entry process, the artist or artist's representative will be asked to submit the following information: Full name, a short bio, contact information, artwork information, and one (1) image of the artwork.  Additional information may be required or requested.

Images

Applicants will need to submit (1) image to enter the competition. Selected applicants will need to submit a second 'high resolution' image for printing. The first lower-resolution image will be submitted to the CaFE website to enter the competition. The second higher-resolution image must be submitted to the Taos Arts Council (info@taosartscouncil.org) or directly to the graphic layout artist at (contact@perrypenick.com) for banner design and printing. Both images MUST be supplied digitally.

1) The image needed for the Call for Entry website must be a JPG (or JPEG) format only - NOT png, gif, tiff, psd or any other, and under 5mb in size.

2) The image needed for printing must be a PSD, TIFF, JPG or PNG format only and will vary in file size. The print image will need to be at least 200 dpi (dots per inch) resolution for printing clarity. 

3) Two banner sizes will be produced.  The image size for the large banners (30"w x 60"h) is 30" wide x 49" high. The image size for the small banners (18"w x 30"h) is 18" wide x 23" high.  Size determination of a selected artists' banner will be determined solely by the graphic designer in conjunction with the Taos Arts Council, based on design considerations and their aesthetic judgment. By submitting an image, YOU AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS.

PHOTO QUALITY COUNTS.  Your entry will NOT be considered if the submitted photograph is not of reasonable reproduction (print) quality. Tips: Choose a work/ photograph that is bold, bright, and legible, with good sharpness and contrast. Avoid busy images or those that would not be well viewed from a distance and from below. 

For more information regarding image considerations, preparation, and submission, please contact the Taos Arts Council (info@taosartscouncil.org).

Blind Jury Process

Selections will be made through a blind jury process.

Considerations will include aesthetic impact, diversity of medium, suitability for the banner format, appropriateness for public display, and legibility for drive-by viewers and pedestrians. We seek artwork that reflects the vitality of all the arts in Taos County, including but not limited to: painting, pottery, sculpture, printmaking, photography, projection and installation, glass, jewelry, metalwork, fiber art, performing arts such as dance, theatre, music, and non-traditional media – in short, depictions of all that Taos offers.

Only entries submitted through CaFE (https://www.callforentry.org) will be accepted for jurying.

There should be no text or overlays on the submitted image unless it is part of the art. 

During the application process, you will be asked for your full name as you would like it to appear on the banner (max of 22 characters with spaces), the date work was completed, the title, medium, and a short description of the work.

If your artwork is selected, you will also be required to submit a print-quality image file upon notification from the Taos Arts Council. If a print-quality file is not provided within the posted timeframe after the winning notification, the entry will be disqualified, and a replacement entry will be chosen for print.

Winning Entries

Selected artists will be featured on ONE of forty-one (41) 30" x 60" lamp post banners (printed front and back), in a location of the Town's choosing along Paseo del Pueblo Sur and Norte or will be featured on ONE of twenty-five (25) 18" x 30" lamp post banners (printed front and back) in a location of the Town's choosing along Kit Carson Road, Bent Street and within the Historic District. There will be a total of 66 banners to be displayed around the Town of Taos.

The banner layout will include your name as you've requested it to appear and will be on view within the Town of Taos from approximately early spring through late summer, exact dates to be determined in conjunction with the Town of Taos. Images of the selected individual banners will be posted on the Taos Arts Council's website as soon as practicable after the layout and printing process has been completed. Artists chosen for lamp post banners will receive their banner after deinstallation is complete and will be available for pick-up at a location to be determined and on dates to be determined.

Promotion

Various promotions on social media and other outlets may appear during this banner competition at the sole discretion and direction of the Town of Taos and the Taos Arts Council. Promotions may include but are not limited to the following: a page or pages on Taos.org and/or TaosArtsCouncil.org, e-news email blasts, social media posts on Visit Taos, Taos is Art and Taos Arts Council social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, Pinterest, YouTube), the Taos News, and other digital banner ads and online and print ads and materials. Promotions may include featured artists/bios, photos of artwork, and finished hung banners.

All entries must be submitted though the CaFE website (https://www.callforentry.org).

Log on to https://www.callforentry.org to enter the Banner Competition. Applicants will first need to create an account/artist profile, which is free. Once a profile is completed artists can enter the Banner Competition. There is a $35 application fee for the submission. The fee includes a $33 fee to offset expenses for the banner project, and a $2 addition to fund any replacement banners due to loss, damage, or similar. 

As part of the entry process, the artist or artist’s representative will be asked to submit the following information: Full Name, a Short Bio, Contact Information, Artwork Information, and one (1) image of Art.  Additional information may be required.

Entrants must be artists at least 18 years of age, currently living and working within Taos County. Work must have been produced within the last 5 years and cannot be a duplicate of a winning entry from a prior Banner competition. Current work is strongly encouraged! Each individual or artist representative may enter a total of one (1) piece, with one (1) image. A group may enter one (1) piece that they’ve worked on collectively, under one (1) collective name.