Download the application housed at https://www.sugarlandfest.org/poster and complete and return with your submission.

2026 contest winner will receive a $250.00 stipend.

Applicants must submit this application with artwork by end-of-day on June 1, 2026. Applications will not be accepted without artwork.
Artwork can be submitted by emailing a high-resolution image to afta@assumptionarts.org; or by emailing to arrange local pickup or shipping.

If you must mail in your artwork, please mail to: Assumption Foundation for the Arts, PO Box 669, 410 Franklin Street, Napoleonville, LA 70390. Both addresses must be listed for shipping and receiving purposes. If mailing, artwork must be postmarked in time for AFTA to receive by June 1, 2026.

Submitting original artwork provides AFTA with more detail into the applicants' skillset and may result in a higher likelihood of scoring higher than only photographs of final pieces.

The artwork must follow these ratio and size guidelines.
18” x 24” (W x H), and the completed piece must have an aspect ratio of 3:4 (W:H) as piece will be used on printed materials such as posters, t-shirts, and other festival merchandise.
Submissions must weigh less than 40 pounds and be transportable.

The applicant must use inspiration from AFTA, the Sugarland Music & Arts Festival, and from the Assumption Parish arts community and arts culture, and the artwork must embody the spirit of the festival community in a creative or innovative way. If you are interested in submitting, but are not from the area, please contact us at afta@assumptionarts.org for a brief meeting on our organization and Assumption Parish.

The art piece must not include anything that is or could be perceived as graphic, offensive, violent, or insensitive.

All entries must be original creations in both concept and execution. The designers of artwork submitted to this contest guarantee that they are the authors of 100% of all layouts and images submitted and/or personally own all rights to all work submitted. Submissions depicting copyrighted designs, characters, or trademarked names, likenesses, or logos will not be accepted.

The use of artificial intelligence and the use of “copy and paste” or “drag and drop” image creation through online services are strictly prohibited.

Original computer-generated graphic designs can be submitted in spot color (PMS) or 4-color process and should be submitted in PNG format in the highest exported resolution possible.

Applicants under the age of 18 must have parental/guardian consent.

Contestants are limited to one entry per year.

All submissions will be evaluated by the AFTA Board of Directors and selected members of the AFTA Advisory Council in the following areas:

Overall Appearance
Compositional elements: color, balance, contrast, proportion, symmetry, etc.
Demonstrates artistic technique and skill

Thematic Content
Does applicant use inspiration from AFTA, the Sugarland Music & Arts Festival, and/or from the Assumption Parish arts community and arts culture, and does the artwork embody the spirit of the festival community in a creative or innovative way?

Creativity
Does it present the subject or theme in an original or unique way?
Is the concept or presentation creative or unique?

Reproduction & Marketability
In general, would someone want to purchase and display the original piece or a print?
Does the piece have mass appeal and lend itself to being reproduced on shirts, prints, etc.?

Applicants must include the information below in their design. The information must be legible and prominent on the poster to be considered:
"3rd Annual"
"Sugarland Music & Arts Festival"
"August 1, 2026" or other normally acceptable format of the date

AFTA and SMAF logos are NOT to be used in the submission. The winning submission will be framed and festival information will be added by AFTA.

Terms of Application
Applicant grants all reproduction and usage rights of all entries to AFTA.

AFTA may publicly reveal the identity of the winning applicant and display photographs of them and their artwork for promotional purposes.

The winner may be asked to participate in promotional activities associated with the competition and/or poster unveiling event.
All original artwork will be treated as a donation to AFTA, and all proceeds from the auction of the original artwork will go toward the foundation.

AFTA reserves the right to take additional photographs of the original artwork and reproduce the artwork in any form and fashion.

Professional Development and Artistic Planning Grants are available to support the professional development needs of Southern presenters, programmers, or curators, for strengthening program design or increasing organizational capacity. South Arts strongly believes professional development for presenters/programmers/curators is integral to success, including traveling to see new works and attending convenings. This grant program is open to film, visual arts, performing arts, traditional arts, literary arts, and multidisciplinary organizations.

This funding can support staff’s travel expenses to conferences, festivals, exhibitions, workshops, and other professional development opportunities. Funding also supports guest artists’ or guest curators’ travel expenses for onsite planning meetings with presenting organizations. These grants support travel expenses (for example, lodging and air/ground transportation), admission/registration fees, and other related expenses. In addition, these grants support expenses for virtual professional development opportunities and staff training (for example, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility training or technology training for virtual engagements).

South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We have prioritized this commitment to ensure that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led organizations, LGBTQIA+ led organizations, and organizations led by people with disabilities are represented as both applicants and grantees. In addition, we encourage applications for projects that engage BIPOC artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, and artists with disabilities.

Celebrate creativity, accessibility, and the joy of collecting at our Summer Artisan Show, where every piece is priced at $250 or less. This vibrant exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists and makers offering original artwork, handcrafted goods, and unique finds—all within reach for new and seasoned collectors.

Open to all mediums, this vibrant exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists and makers working in painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography, woodworking, mixed media, and more. Visitors can explore original artwork and handcrafted goods that are both high-quality and affordable—perfect for new and seasoned collectors alike.

This curated exhibit will feature fine art and craft available for purchase and taken at the time of sale. Matted prints and items that do not need to hang are eligible for this exhibit.