NC 4th of July Festival seeks artists for 2027 T-shirt design contest
SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — The NC 4th of July Festival is inviting artists, photographers and designers to submit original artwork for its 2027 T-shirt design contest.
The contest is open to people of all ages and artistic backgrounds, regardless of where they live.
Organizers are looking for a design that reflects the spirit of the annual Independence Day celebration in Southport and the community that gathers for the festivities.
The winning artwork will be selected by the festival’s board of directors and will become the official festival design for 2027. The artwork may also be used in future years for festival merchandise, promotions, publications and advertising.
“We’re excited to give artists an opportunity to be part of the Festival in a completely different way,” said Keesha Starr, co-president of the 2027 festival. “The Festival has such a strong visual identity and such a wonderful connection to the community, and we’re looking forward to seeing how artists interpret that through their own creative work.”
Participants can submit multiple designs, but each entry must be submitted separately and requires a $10 nonrefundable fee.
Submissions must feature original artwork and be uploaded as high-resolution PNG files. Organizers recommend a minimum resolution of 3,000 by 3,000 pixels.
Photography, graphic design, painting, illustration and combinations of artistic media are accepted, provided the final design is suitable for printing on a T-shirt.
However, organizers say artwork created with generative artificial intelligence or AI-assisted tools is prohibited. Entries using generative AI will be disqualified.
The submission deadline is Dec. 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
The winning design will be selected no earlier than Dec. 15, 2026.
The winner will receive recognition and a free T-shirt featuring their design.
The NC 4th of July Festival is an annual celebration in Southport featuring events, entertainment and community traditions surrounding Independence Day.
Artists interested in participating can review the complete contest rules and submit their designs on the official website.
