Student Art Competition

We Accept:

• Hand-drawn or painted artwork
• Digital designs
• Photography-based compositions

Hand-Drawn or Painted Designs

• Please download and use the official template.
• Use white, smooth-finish paper — textured paper will not reproduce well on vinyl.
• Markers or colored pencils are recommended.

Photography

• Digital format only.
• Minimum file size: 10MB (JPEG or TIFF).
• Minimum resolution: 300–600 dpi; highest resolution possible is preferred.
• Content must be appropriate. Images containing explicit, violent, or otherwise inappropriate content (as determined by BCRTA) are not eligible.
• You must own, have rights to, or have permission to use all photos included in your design.

Digital Artwork — Adobe Illustrator

• Files created on PC, Mac, or iPad are acceptable.
• Use the official template.
• Save your files to a thumb drive and include:
  • AI or EPS file
  • All fonts converted to outlines
    • In Illustrator: Select text → Type > Create Outlines
  • A printed or PDF copy of your design

Digital Artwork — Adobe Photoshop

• Files created on PC, Mac, or iPad are acceptable.
• Use the official template.
• Save all files to a thumb drive and include:
  • PSD file
  • A printed or PDF copy
  • Convert all fonts to outlines (Type > Create Outlines).

All submitted artwork must be original and created entirely by the student.
The use of AI-generated artwork or AI image-generation tools (including but not limited to text-to-image generators, AI art apps, or similar technologies) is not permitted for this contest.

Students may use digital tools (such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop) only as traditional creative software, not to generate imagery through artificial intelligence. All elements of the design must be hand-created, photographed by the student or digitally illustrated by the student.

• The artwork is their own original work
• No AI-generated images or content were used in the creation of the design
• They own or have permission to use all elements included

BCRTA reserves the right to request process files, sketches, or drafts to verify originality. Any entry found to include AI-generated content will not be considered for the winning submission.

• Does the design tell a story or convey a clear message?
• Does it promote public transit and/or Butler County?
• Is the design eye-catching?
• Is the composition balanced and unified?

• Winners will be announced in April 2026.
• The first-place design will be turned into a bus wrap and unveiled in May 2026.

• Tell a story with your artwork.
• Large, bold elements make a stronger impact than many small details.
• Bright, vibrant colors show best on a moving vehicle.
• Keep text large enough to be read while the bus is in motion.
• Do not sign your artwork — the winning artist’s name will be added to the bus by BCRTA.
• Avoid using any copyrighted material.
• Please submit a hard copy with your entry, regardless of design method.