America 250 Poster Contest

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird proudly announces the City of Lincoln's participation in the America 250 City Art Poster Project in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) to commemorate America's semiquincentennial.

Participating cities will invite artists to create posters that celebrate local history and inspire hope for the future. Poster themes should convey civic pride, historical connection, and optimism for the next 250 years.

Category winners will be displayed locally, and one poster will be submitted as Lincoln's official contribution to the national project. Selected posters may also have opportunities for display at national meetings and publications.

Timeline

• Contest launch: February 12, 2026
• Local submission deadline: April 15, 2026
• City judging and selection: April 22, 2026
• Official submission to USCM: May 1, 2026

Contest Categories

Artists may submit one entry in one of the following divisions:

• Youth (Kindergarten through Grade 5)
• Middle and High School (Grades 6 through 12)
• Amateur (Adult non-professional / hobbyist artists)
• Professional (Experienced or working artists)

Awards will be determined in each category.

Eligibility

• Open to Lincoln residents only (City employees are eligible to participate)
• Youth participants must include parental or guardian permission
• One entry per artist
• Submissions must be original artwork created by the submitting artist

Artwork Requirements

Artists should review these requirements to ensure their work aligns with the national submission standards. Guidelines include:

• Themes should celebrate local history, community identity and/or vision for the future in honor of America's 250th anniversary.
• Poster content must include the city name "Lincoln" and the text "America 250" in the design.
• Posters must be nonpartisan and not include political messages or inflammatory language.
• Posters should be suitable for print and display.
• Posters can be used by the City of Lincoln for display and promotional purposes.

File Format and Submission Specifications

• Artwork must be submitted as a high-resolution JPEG no larger than 10 MB. Other file formats such as HEIC (Apple native) will not be accepted.
• Artwork image must have a clear background with nothing behind the design.
• Photos that are too small or low resolution to produce quality prints will not be considered.
• Images suitable for printing generally require a resolution of about 300 PPI at intended print size.
• Artists should submit the best quality image possible within these constraints.
• If your entry is selected to go to the national exhibit, City staff may need your assistance in preparing the poster for national requirements.

Submission Process

1. Artwork and the entry form must be submitted by 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Local winners will be announced May 1.
2. Entry form must include:
   • Full name
   • Address within the City of Lincoln
   • Contact email
   • Category
   • Short statement (50 words or fewer) describing the artwork

Judging Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on:

• Creativity and originality
• Relevance to the America 250 theme
• Visual impact and design quality
• Integration of Lincoln's identity or community stories
• A committee of community members will present two finalists in each category for the mayor to determine the final winner

Awards

Each category will receive:

• Display in Lincoln public venues (libraries, city buildings, galleries)
• Feature on city communications and social channels

Lincoln's official selected poster will be submitted to the national America 250 project for potential inclusion in national displays and publications.