Calling all artists! The art contest makes a grand return for this year’s Geekfest! Participants must be aged 13 and over to participate. Entries may be 2D, 3D, or digital. Artwork may be related to a fandom or original. Entries will be displayed in the Garden Trio.
Don’t want to participate in the contest, but still want to show off your art? No problem! Artists will still be able to display their art in the Garden Trio as part of this year’s Art Celebration.
Artists aged 12 and under may participate in this year’s Art Celebration. Entries may be 2D, 3D, or digital. Artwork may be related to a fandom or original. Artwork will be displayed in the Children’s Library.
Art Contest and Celebration Guidelines 2026
How to participate:
For traditional art/3D art:
- Fill out the registration form by Saturday, August 1, at 5PM. Registration forms can be found at the branches and at the Main Library’s Teen Desk.
- Work must be dropped off at the Main Library Teen Desk.
For digital art:
- Fill out the registration form online by Saturday, August 1, at 5PM.
For questions or more information, please contact Art Co-Chair Khantal Tigner at 330.643.4836 or email Khantal at
Art Contest Guidelines (Ages 13+ Only)
- Contest is only open to ages 13 and up. Ages 12 and under may submit artwork for our Art Celebration (see the GeekFest website for details).
- Entries should be related to anything fandom or geeky.
- Limit one entry per person.
- Winners will be selected from the following categories:
- Traditional - Original or Fan
- Fan Art - Fan art is any art that is derived from or inspired by a character from a comic, anime/manga series, tv show, book, musical act, or movie.
- Original Art - Art that is the sole creation of the artist and not derived from another work, such as an original comic strip, or tattoo design.
- Digital - Original or Fan
- 3D Art - Sculptures, crafts, 3D paintings, etc.
- People’s Choice – Attendees will get the chance to vote during GeekFest for their favorite!
- Traditional - Original or Fan
- Artwork must be suitable for all ages. Depictions of strong violence, nudity, and/or drug or alcohol use will not be accepted. Library staff have the final say on what is appropriate.
- Items generated wholly or partially by Artificial Intelligence (AI) WILL NOT be accepted. Artificial intelligence art is any artwork created through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) programs such as text-to-image models and musical generators. In short, it is artwork (visual, audio, or otherwise) generated by a machine learning process. Humans may have collected the data, or written instructions for the machine to use, but the process of creation is left to the machine.
- Traditional submissions must be mounted onto matte board or cardstock. Entries must not be larger than 11” x 17”.
- Entries must include the artist’s name, phone number/email, age, art category for entry, and title of the piece (if any) on their backs. Or attached to any 3D art.
- Entries must be received by no later than Saturday, August 1, at 5 pm. Late entries may still be displayed but will be ineligible for prizes.
- Drop off any physical entries to the Main Library Teen Desk. Digital entries may be submitted here. (File name should include your first and last name.)
- Prizes of $50 Amazon gift cards will be awarded for each category. A $25 Amazon gift card will be awarded to the People’s Choice winner. Winners will be announced during the Cosplay Contest deliberations.
- Any traditional artwork must be picked up from the library Teen Desk by no later than Saturday, September 12th. Any artwork not picked up by this date will be discarded.
Art Celebration Guidelines (All Ages)
- The Art Celebration is open to people of all ages.
- Entries should be related to anything fandom or geeky.
- Limit one entry per person.
- Artists may submit in following categories:
- Traditional - Original or Fan
- Fan Art - Fan art is any art that is derived from or inspired by a character from a comic, anime/manga series, tv show, book, musical act, or movie.
- Original Art - Art that is the sole creation of the artist and not derived from another work, such as an original comic strip, or tattoo design.
- Digital - Original or Fan
- 3D Art - Sculptures, crafts, 3D paintings, etc.
- Traditional - Original or Fan
- Artwork must be suitable for all ages. Depictions of strong violence, nudity, and/or drug or alcohol use will not be accepted. Library staff have the final say on what is appropriate.
- Items generated wholly or partially by Artificial Intelligence (AI) WILL NOT be accepted. Artificial intelligence art is any artwork created through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) programs such as text-to-image models and musical generators. In short, it is artwork (visual, audio, or otherwise) generated by a machine learning process. Humans may have collected the data, or written instructions for the machine to use, but the process of creation is left to the machine.
- Traditional submissions must be mounted onto matte board or cardstock. Entries must not be larger than 11” x 17”.
- Entries must include the artist’s name, phone number/email, age, art category for entry, and title of the piece (if any) on their backs. Or attached to any 3D art.
- Entries must be received no later than Saturday, August 1, at 5 pm.
- Drop off any physical entries to the Main Library Teen Desk. Digital entries may be submitted here. (File name should include your first and last name.)
- Any traditional artwork must be picked up from the library Teen Desk no later than Saturday, September 12th. Any artwork not picked up by this date will be discarded.
