The 2015 Cotton District Arts Festival may be months away, but planning is well underway. Mississippi State University students and community members will have a chance to use their design skills to create graphics that will be entered in the Cotton District Arts Festival Poster Contest. 
Open to those who are 18 years or older, this year’s submission deadline is August 29th. The winner of the contest will see their design used as the official poster for the 2015 festival and also displayed on festival merchandise. The winner will also receive $300 courtesy of Chalet Arts. 
Last year’s winner, MSU graduate Dominque Pugh, became a fan of the Cotton District Arts Festival during her time at MSU. “I have always been a fan of the previous CDAF posters and always thought it would be nice to have one that I could say that I designed,” It was a great way illustrate what CDAF means to me.” Pugh’s poster featured art supplies, instruments and cooking utensils mingled with the name of the festival. 
According to the official poster contest press release, the posters submitted to the competition are asked to be vivid, colorful depictions of the many elements that the arts council represents, including music, theatre, dance, literature, visual and culinary arts. The winner will be notified on September 26th and the poster will be presented to the public in November. 
“It’s always a lot of fun to see the designs that everyone comes up with. We have such talent in our community,” said Erin Davies, SAAC Administrative Assistant and Membership Coordinator.
Contest details and design specifications can be found online at www.CDAFestival.com. Any questions about the poster contest can be directed to Laurie Burton at [email protected] or 662-694-1107.
The festival is put on each spring by the Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC). The mission of the SAAC is to promote the essential value of the arts for the cultural, educational, social and economic vitality of the Starkville area. Connect with the SAAC online at www.starkvillearts.org, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/StarkvilleAreaArtsCouncil.