First Night seeks artists to design New Year’s button

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

First Night Youngstown is calling for local and regional artists to participate in its annual competition for a design that will be on the admission button for the New Year’s Eve event.

The winning artist also will be a celebrity guest in the Christmas parade and tree-lighting event as well as the First Night opening ceremony Dec. 31, and will receive 10 complimentary admission buttons.

The button series celebrates downtown Youngstown’s unique and historic buildings and architecture. This year’s will be the 17th in that series. Each one is donated to the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center.

Button designs may be created using any art medium including photography, drawing, painting, collage and mixed or digital media, and then digitally saved as a JPEG file. The design must depict an aspect of downtown Youngstown in a manner that highlights the spirit of New Year’s Eve. A night scene that includes fireworks or other elements of the occasion is preferred. No champagne glasses or images of drinking alcohol; First Night events are family-friendly.

The design must include the phrase First Night Youngstown 2017, and it can be a rectangular shape, horizontal or vertical. The final rectangle reduction size will be 2 inches by 3 inches.

Interested artists should call 330-744-9966 to get an entry form, or send an email to infofirstnightyoungstown@gmail.com. The submission deadline for the entry form and the design is Aug. 31. Mail the form with the artwork on a CD to First Night Youngstown, 25 E. Boardman St., Suite 405, Youngstown, OH 44503.

The admission button provides entry to all First Night events at several venues, and are sold for $5 to $10 each. Proceeds help fund the performances.