Banner Exhibition and Competition

When designing your banner, please remember that it will hang between 15 and 20 feet over the street. The design must be visible from both sides of the banner (identical or different). All components of the banner design and construction must be securely attached, or the banner will not be displayed. Banners with religious, partisan, or commercial messages will not be accepted. Banners commemorating community organizations are permitted.

The banner must measure 72” long and 30” wide. It must be able to be rolled up for storage purposes. Its weight may not exceed 15 pounds.

Lettering or printing on the banner should be easy to read.

Materials
The banner must be constructed of heavy weight, colorfast, weather-resistant material. The following suggestions regarding materials will be helpful.

• Fabric Materials: Sail cloth, duck, drill, canvas, heavy twill, cotton
• Fabric Properties: Durable, strong, color-fast, weather-resistant materials
• General Materials Needed: Approximately 4-5 yards fabric, thread, dowels, chain
• Materials to Avoid: Burlap or felt, various types of net fabric, loosely woven fabric such as casement goods, see-through plastics, water soluble glues, or fragile adornments. Please do not use glitter.

The Dowel at the Top
The banner must be hung from a 36” poplar dowel, either 5/8 or 3/4” in diameter. A standard 36” poplar dowel, available at building supply stores is perfect for this. Please do not use an oak dowel or a metal rod since it is difficult to secure the banner to those materials. The dowel will extend 3” on each side of the banner. The banner must be weighted at the bottom.

The Weight at the Bottom
Weight at the bottom of banners keeps them hanging properly even in windy conditions. The weight must be completely enclosed and should be heavier than the top dowel. We recommend a heavy metal chain which can be tacked into place and sewn into into a sleeve at the bottom of the banner. Be sure the ends of the sleeve are sewn shut so that the weight does not fall out. 

Please include the following information on your banner:

• Artist’s name or group
• The year the banner was made
• You may Include the title of the banner on it; this is not required

Banners will be accepted at the office of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, 403 South Allen Street, Suite 205A, until 5:00 p.m., June 14, 2024. Banners may be shipped or delivered by hand. Banners received after the deadline will not be considered. Submitted banners become the property of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

Banner Competition winners will be announced Saturday, July 13, 2024.

Banners may be hung in various locations in Centre County in 2024 and will be hung above the 2024 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and at subsequent festivals.

The Banner Competition jurors will be announced at a later date.