Poster Design Contest (Now Closed)
Thank you to everyone who submitted artwork! The contest is now closed. Finalists will be notified on November 7, 2025.
We’re inviting artists to submit original designs for a poster promoting the new Gottesman Rink at the Davis Center in Central Park. This November, the Central Park Conservancy is bringing the magic of ice-skating back to the north end of the Park, and the winning poster will help celebrate this exciting new community destination in Harlem.
The selected artwork will be wheatpasted (wildposted) in public spaces and may also be adapted into other formats—such as postcards, digital ads, or social media—so designs should work well across multiple platforms.
If you’re an artist who wants to be considered, we’d love to see your creativity!
How to Submit Your Entry
- Review the contest details, design requirements, and Official Rules.
- Upload one reduced-size preview file of your poster design in JPG, PNG, or PDF format (see requirements below).
- Submit your entry no later than Friday, October 31, 2025, at 4:00 PM ET.
- Note: Only one entry per person is permitted.
Final Design Requirements
The poster should inspire New Yorkers to visit and skate at the new Gottesman Rink. It should:
- Reflect the bold, colorful, and expressive richness that defines Harlem
- Be dynamic and engaging, featuring figures in motion, playful interactions, and a sense of community fun
- Capture the sparkle and wonder of ice-skating: gliding, spinning, laughter, and togetherness
- Be welcoming to all ages and backgrounds, celebrating diversity and joy
- Incorporate a festive, seasonal element that evokes the magic of the winter holidays (e.g., twinkly lights)
Contest Submission Requirements
- Submit a reduced-size preview file of your poster design in JPG, PNG, PDF format suitable for web upload, up to 5 MB maximum.
- For your submission, please include the headline text: “The Gottesman Rink at the Davis Center in Central Park is now open.” This headline should be incorporated into your design so that the final poster clearly shows how text and artwork work together. In final production, the Conservancy will replace this with the approved text, font, and style.
- The footer (to be added later by Conservancy designers) may include elements such as the Conservancy logo, artist credit, and a QR code. Entrants should leave room for this, but do not need to include it in their submission.
Important Consideration
- Artists should design with flexibility in mind. The Conservancy’s design team may adapt the layout into two poster variations (one close-cropped and one full-scene) to support a 4-up wildposting checkerboard format.
Audience
- The poster will be seen by families, young people, and community members of all ages in Harlem and surrounding neighborhoods
Deliverables Needed from First-Prize Winner (for wildposting production)
- Final file size: 24”w x 36”h at 300 dpi
- File format: layered TIFF or Photoshop (PSD) or layered EPS/Vector file
- Working file must be set up in Illustrator or Photoshop with content on a separate layer from the artwork
These files will be due in November, after the first-prize winner is notified.
Contest Timeline
- Contest Launch: Friday, October 3, 2025
- Submission Deadline: Friday, October 31, 2025 at 4:00 PM ET
- Winners Notified: Friday, November 7, 2025
Contest Prizes
- First Prize: $5,000 cash award. The winning design will be used in the Conservancy’s paid media campaign for the Gottesman Rink at the Davis Center and may also be adapted for additional formats (e.g., postcards, digital assets). The artist’s name will be credited on the poster, and the winner will be featured on Conservancy social media channels.
- Second and Third Place Runners-Up: Recognition and inclusion on Conservancy social media channels, including the official Davis Center account.