The Banner Exhibition and Competition is one of the signature events of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. The Festival is proud to display past and present banners annually. Our banners hang over the Festival route, adding color and movement to the festive atmosphere.
The 2025 banner competition application deadline is June 13, 2025.
The Banner Exhibition is sponsored by FirstEnergy.
Banner entries are divided into three categories so that entrants are competing with their peers:
CALENDAR
Banners entered in the competition must be delivered to the office of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts by 5:00 p.m., June 13, 2025. Banner Competition winners will be announced Saturday, July 12, 2025.
DESIGN and CONSTRUCTION CRITERIA
Design
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.
Measurements
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.
Fabric
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.
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.
Dowels and Weights
The banner must be hung from a 36” poplar dowel, either 5/8 or 3/4” in diameter. 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 must be completely enclosed and should be heavier than the top dowel. We recommend a heavy metal chain which can be sewn into place at several locations. Please be sure the ends are also tacked in place. The weight on the bottom keeps the banner hanging vertically even in windy conditions.
Lettering or Printing
Lettering or printing on the banner should be easy to read, clear, simple and direct.
Identification
Please include the following information on your banner:
• Title
• Artist’s name or group
• The year the banner was made
Use indelible markers, fabric paints or stitching by hand or machine.
JURORS
The 2025 Banner Competition jurors will be announced at a later date.
SUBMISSION
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 13, 2025. 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. Should an artist request return of a banner, the banner will be neither juried nor hung at the Festival.
Get a Festival poster and buy Festival wristbands, t-shirts and other merchandise at the corner of College and Allen – or visit our online store.
