Call for Summer 2023 Poster Artist

Clarion West is searching for an artist to create artwork for our 2023 summer programming! Please share this call with the artists you know that might be a great fit, and see below for details.

What we’re looking for

We want to commission a piece of art that inspires us and our writers to create and explore with bravery and freedom. The art needs to represent the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and/or horror in some way, while also supporting our core values of diversity, inclusion, and supporting emerging writers. (You can see the work of our 2022 poster artist, Odera Igbokwe, here as just one example.)

In addition to serving as our poster image, the artwork (or elements of it) will appear in much of Clarion West’s summer programming materials and promotions, which will likely include the Write-a-thon website, social media banners and posts, YouTube banner and slides, the cover of student notebooks, thank-you cards, etc. Clarion West is also interested in pursuing summer merchandising of the artwork, with royalty percentage to be negotiated with the artist. The artwork will not be used beyond our 2023 summer programming needs, unless agreed upon between the artist and Clarion West.

Additional details

Since the poster art will be overlaid with text by Clarion West staff, the artist will need to make sure to incorporate open space into the poster design. (Again, see our 2022 poster for reference.) The poster will be physically printed on demand by our 2023 Six-Week Workshop students, and will also appear in digital formats.

As described in the prior section, Clarion West would like to use individual elements of the overall artwork to create unique graphics for social media and promotional materials throughout the summer. “Cutting out” individual elements from the artwork may either be done by Clarion West staff or the artist themselves (at an additional fee) depending on availability, preference, and cost. (See here for an example of how Clarion West may use individual elements of the artwork.)

The artist retains all rights not described here, and is free to include the work in their portfolio once it has appeared with Clarion West.

Compensation will depend on experience, starting at $750.

Timeline

Artist applications due: February 24

Artist selected: March 17 (with contract signed shortly thereafter)

Concept sketch(es) due: April 14

Final art due: May 12

Payment rendered: Promptly upon receipt of final art

To apply

To be considered as our summer artist, please submit your application here by Friday, February 24 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

BIPOC, PGM (People of the Global Majority), and LGBTQIA+ artists encouraged to apply.