Artists invited to submit designs for First Night Youngstown 2016 button

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

First Night Youngstown (FNY) is calling for local and regional artists to participate in the annual design competition for its New Year’s Eve admission button.

Samantha Turner, FNY board vice president, said, “The winning artist will be promoted at all press events and will be a celebrity guest in the Christmas holiday parade and tree-lighting event as well as in the opening ceremony on Dec. 31.”

New this year, the winning artist will have the opportunity to display a collection of his/her work downtown at the new Soap Gallery during the Christmas holidays. The Soap Gallery, a new for-profit fine art gallery, will open in October at 117 S. Champion St.

This year’s design should depict the anticipation that builds as midnight approaches on New Year’s Eve. First Night is family-friendly, so no image of alcohol.

The phrase “First Night Youngstown 2016” also should be included in the design, which must be a rectangular shape, horizontal or vertical.

Artists should submit an image for the web and also one for print media.

Button designs may be created using any 2-D art medium including photography, drawing, painting, collage, mixed or digital media.

Enter by Sept. 30 at www.firstnightyoungstownoh.com. Email the completed form to infofirstnightyoungstown@netzero.net with the design attached in a high-quality format (TIF or JPG) that can be enlarged. Submissions also will be accepted on a CD; mail to First Night Youngstown, 25 E. Boardman St. Suite 405, Youngstown, OH 44503.