T-Shirt Design Contest PROMPT: “kaBLOOM!” (flowers, fun — an explosion of creativity)
Deadline: July 24, 2026
Who Can Enter?
Cascade County K-12 students (including homeschoolers) may submit a design. Contestants must include the completed contact form to be eligible. Contestants can enter up to three designs for consideration but will only be eligible for either First or Second Place. An entry waiver (download the PDF using the button above) must be received with all entries in order to be considered.
The design must be black line art only. The artist must also sign their work. Keep in mind that your artwork should be original, and creative that will be printed on t-shirts for this year’s festival. Designs with very thin lines are difficult to screenprint; make sure your design is clear and bold!
Submission Guidelines: Black Line Art Submissions Only
Please only use black ink or marker with no shading. Regular pencil lines are not dark enough
Remember that the winning design will be printed on a t-shirt, so bold lines are best! Be sure to sign your work
Images that are drawn by hand using software like ProCreate, Sketch.io, Kreska, Photoshop, Krita, or Illustrator are acceptable, but we will not accept any AI-generated images for this contest
Bring your completed artwork to Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art (The Square) at 1400 1st Ave N, Great Falls or send a high-resolution PDF or JPG to: sjohnson@the-square.org
Submitted drawings on paper will only be held until Arts on Fire. If you would like your drawing returned to you after the contest, please pick it up between 7/24 and 9/19. The Square reserves the right to decline any contest entry for any reason. Final winners will be determined by a committee of staff and board members. Any staff or board member with a conflict of interest will recuse themselves from voting. The second-place design will be edited with color at the museum’s discretion to prepare for sticker production.
We are currently taking applications for the Artist Alley vendor market as part of the 15th Annual Arts on Fire Festival on September 19, 2026.
We have very limited spots available, so please submit your inquiry to Brent Viste, Gift Shop Manager as soon as possible for your application to be reviewed.
How to apply:
Send your name, business name (if applicable), phone #, mailing address, and email, along with a brief description of the artwork you sell and 4-5 high-quality images of your work to Brent Viste at brent@the-square.org for consideration. Accepted vendors will be notified on a rolling basis until spaces are full or until August 28, whichever is sooner.
*NOTE, potential scammers on social media may offer available booth spots. We try to catch these scam comments when they occur, but please always call the museum directly at 406-727-8255 if you are unsure. The only way to pay for this event is through our gift shop or through an electronic invoice initiated by our bookkeeper.
Vendors we're looking for:
Artists and artisans creating handmade, originally designed items such as, but not limited to: painting, drawing, pottery, illustration, printmaking, fiber arts, sculptures, woodworking, jewelry, accessories, homegoods, leather goods, and more. We will not accept vendors using AI-generated images in their work.
Event Costs & Details:
If approved the vendor fee is $60 and must be paid in full to the museum at least two weeks prior to the event on September 19. Vendors will retain 100% of their sales and are responsible for taking payments. It is highly encouraged to offer a digital payment option such as Square, venmo, paypal, and others along with cash to maximize your sales at this event.
Approved vendors can request to borrow one 8-foot table and one chair at no extra charge, while supplies last. Vendors can begin setting up their booths as early as 8:30 a.m. and must remain set up at the event through 4:00 p.m. (weather permitting). Vendors can unload using a vehicle but must move their car to the free parking at Montana Credit Union across the street by 9:30 a.m.
We are looking for volunteers to perform music, dance, magic tricks, or theatre for 30 to 45-minute time slots throughout the event. Please contact Natalie Nicolson, Facilities Manager at natalie@the-square.org if you are interested!
We need appx. 100 volunteers each year to make this event successful. Please contact Graham Kerwin, Interim Education Manager at graham@the-square.org if you are interested in volunteering during the event.
Examples of volunteer needs include: setup/teardown, root beer float station, health/safety, parking attendants, groundskeeping, art activity booths, water bottle wagon for other volunteers, pottery wheel demonstrations, indoor welcome desk, gift shop assistants, and more! We have volunteer tasks for helpers ages 14+.
