Call for local artists to submit designs for 2026 city banners

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C.— The City of Fort St. John is looking for local artists to help design banners for the city.

The Fort St. John Arts Council, in collaboration with the city, will be hosting a Banner Art Workshop on February 7th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arts Post. 

Victoria Butler, programmer for the City of Fort St. John arts and culture department, told Energeticcity.ca this program has been ongoing for years. 

She said: “Last year, we ran our youth banner call, where youth from the community designed banners and they’re all along Toboggan Hill, from the high school down to the skate park.” 

For 2026, the banners will be placed in parking lots around the city, including the Pomeroy Sport Centre, North Peace Leisure Pool, Kids Arena Fieldhouse, North Peace Arena and the Fort St. John Curling Club.

“[The] Arts Council is going to host the artist call for us, including the workshop, and connect with local artists as well as newcomers,” Butler said, adding anyone can participate and attend the workshop. 

Diana Hofmann, a local artist and member of the Flying Colours Artists’ Association, told Energeticcity.ca: “I’m so excited to see who will attend the workshops, hopefully we will find some new and unknown artists. 

“I know Fort St. John has so much hidden talent waiting to be discovered through new programming.” 

Hofmann, who will be leading the workshop, will be helping with guidelines and working with the artists to come up with ideas.

This year, Butler shared the theme is indoor recreation and indoor fitness. 

Butler shared: “Anytime we’re designing banner art, the theme is just as important as anything else, but it’s also understanding that banner as a whole.

“Fort St. John Arts Council is also going to be looking for artists who are able to convey a message with a simple, bright and colourful design.” 

The city’s goal is to have the new banners up by May 1st with a little wiggle room in case other priorities arise. 

“When [the] new artwork is put up, then the old artwork is taken down and there’s a plan for artwork once it’s removed as well,” Butler shared.

Once it reaches the end of its life, artwork is donated back to the Fort St. John Arts Council to be refurbished into other projects.   

Over 20 participants registered for the council’s last workshop. 

She said: “[Participants can] just drop in. But, please email info@fsjarts.org to let them know how many are attending.” 

Butler shared that a total of four designs can be selected, so she encourages anyone submitting a design to include more than one. 

“There’s a jury of selected individuals that the arts council has [who will] go through the design, scoring it based on functionality, transferability to a banner and other specifications,” she said.“If designs are really intricate, it’ll score lower.” 

Butler shared that attending the workshop is not necessary to submit a design.

“If they haven’t submitted anything before, read the tips for creating banner art because that’s going to be what our jury committee is looking at.” 

For information about the program, reach out to info@fsjarts.org or email the city at arts-culture@fortstjohn.ca.