CLT-Region Billboard Art Exhibit
Class of 2026 Open Call
Stay Tuned
for Open Call Details!
Our team is working to make the 2026 billboard art exhibit bigger, better, and more brilliant!
For now, you can prepare to apply by reading the Submission Guidelines below.
STEPS TO APPLY:
01
Review Submission Guidelines
Before applying, first read all submission requirements below. Age and location requirements, an artist website, approved art content and cropping are all key factors to being accepted to ArtPop’s Billboard Art Exhibit program.
02
Format Your Artwork Properly
Use the provided templates to properly crop and format your artwork file.
Images that are uncropped, improperly formatted, or otherwise go against these guidelines are ineligible.
03
Submit Your Application
Applications will be exclusively accepted via CaFÉ.
Prior to the call opening, we recommend artists go ahead and register for a Cafe Account.
Submission Guidelines
↓ Review Before Applying ↓
Artist Eligibility:
Before you prepare to apply, ensure you are eligible by checking each of the requirements below.
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All applicants must reside in one of the following counties:
North Carolina:
• Cabarrus County
• Catawba County
• Cleveland County
• Gaston County
• Iredell County
• Lincoln County
• Mecklenburg County
• Rowan County
• Stanly County
• Union CountySouth Carolina:
• York County -
Adult applicants must be 18 years or older.
High School Senior applicants do not need to meet any age requirements, but must be enrolled in their final year of high school, and should be planning to study the arts through higher education following graduation.
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Adult applicants must have both an active artist website and a social media profile related to their artist practice.
High School Senior applicants are required to have a social media profile related to their artist practice, but are not required to have a website.
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“Alumni” artists who have been featured in any past year of the billboard art exhibit program are not eligible to reapply.
We highly encourage our Alumni Artists to learn about how they can get involved with ArtPop’s additional programs.
Application Checklist
What’s Required to Apply:
Cropped & Formatted Artwork File
A digital image file of your artwork which has been cropped & formatted in accordance to our guidelines. If selected, you will need to provide a high-resolution image file of your artwork (both cropped & in its original format) for printing.
Brief Artist Statement
A one-paragraph statement explaining your artwork’s medium & intention, and why you'd like to be in ArtPop's Billboard Art Exhibit Program.
High School Senior Applicants should also describe their academic plans in the arts.
Artist Website & Social Media Profile
Adult applicants must have both an active artist website and an artist social media profile. High School Senior applicants are only required to have a social media profile related to their artist practice, but are not required to have a website.
CaFÉ Account
Applications are exclusively accepted through CaFÉ, so you will need to have an active account that is updated with your current contact information. If you don’t currently have a CaFÉ account, you’ll need to sign up for free here before applying.
Application Fee
• $35 for Adult Applicants
• $10 for High School Senior Applicants
Entry fees cover the cost of the CaFÉ application system and some printing expenses for public art displays.
Artwork Requirements:
When preparing to apply, it is crucial to consider how your artwork will look as a sky-high ArtPop Billboard, and our jurors will be do the same when reviewing all submissions.
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Each applicant may submit exactly one (1) original artwork of any medium.
Group and collaborative submissions are not eligible.
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Submitted artworks must be entirely original, and should not include any copyrighted logos, characters, brands, etc. Plagiarized works or copyright infringement will result in removal from the program.
Images created using Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) are not eligible for submission.
Artworks that were created as paid corporate or individual commission projects are not eligible for submission.
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Submitted artworks must be properly cropped & formatted to be eligible. Use the templates provided below to ensure your file meets the necessary specifications:
• 5MB maximum file size*
• Exact dimensions: 7300px wide x 2200px high, at 300DPI
• Does not include the rectangular "brand panel"*Note: If your artwork is selected for the billboard art exhibit program, you will be required to provide high-resolution files of your accepted artwork, both uncropped & cropped.
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Per donated ad space regulations, artworks depicting smoking, nudity, slander, religion or copyrighted brand images, logos, and characters are ineligible and will not be considered for ArtPop’s billboard art exhibit program.
Cropping Your Artwork
Submitted artworks must be pre-cropped to the billboard format. Uncropped submissions will not be accepted.
ArtPop’s artist billboards also include the artist’s name and ArtPop logo within a rectangular “brand panel” on either the left or right side. The brand panels are included in the templates for reference only, but your submission should not include this brand panel - just your cropped artwork.
Artwork with Panel
❌ Don’t Submit
Uncropped Artwork
❌ Don’t Submit
Cropped Artwork with No Brand Panel
✅ Ready to Submit
Template for Artwork Submission File
To easily format your artwork file, download our provided Adobe Photoshop template and the corresponding template guide:
Note: Adobe Photoshop software and active subscription required
Need Assistance?
If you are not comfortable with editing programs or are unfamiliar with this process, we recommend you seek out a professional photographer and / or graphic designer who understands the specs so your submission looks its best!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Please stay tuned for more details about our 2026 Open Call, including all important dates.
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Eligible submissions are blind-reviewed by a jury of artists, curators, and community figures based on what will make great public art displays.
This jury will review each applicant’s submitted billboard artwork without knowledge of the artist’s name, credentials, or other identifying information.
Applicant artwork is considered both individually and as a group to curate a wide variety of artistic mediums and a collection of artwork that will make an impact through public displays within the greater Charlotte region.
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Application fees are for adults are $35, and $10 for high school seniors.
The application fees collected during our Open Call directly fuels ArtPop's use of the paid CaFÉ service for our Open Call. Any remaining amount will be put towards printing costs for the 2026 artist billboards & displays.
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No. Artists of all stages in their artistic careers are welcome to apply.
The best fit for the Cities Program is any artist who is actively engaged in creating, connecting with the greater Charlotte-region arts community, and growing their career as an artist!
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Since 2014, ArtPop has featured Charlotte-area artists on regional billboards and public advertising displays. These artists also receive additional benefits including features at artist events, and a connection to a thriving creative community!
Because the program is ever growing, there is always potential for even more opportunities to arise (such as art displays outside of the Charlotte region) - these potential opportunities are situational and are never guaranteed.
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• High-Resolution Images - If your artwork is selected for the billboard art exhibit program, you will then be required to provide high-resolution image files, both uncropped & cropped, to be used for artist billboards & displays.
• Program Reveal Event - All 20 selected artists are expected to join us for our private Class of 2026 Reveal Event, where they will be honored and welcomed into the program.
• Social Media Participation - Each month in 2026, program artists will be required to make one public social media feed post about your involvement in the program. Those artists will be provided with a Social Media Guide containing content tips and suggestions to make this easy!
• Website Acknowledgement - Selected artists will be required to to add content to your website letting visitors know about your participation in ArtPop’s billboard art exhibit program, with a live link directing them to our website.
Still have questions? Get in touch with our team using the Contact page.
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