High School Students Can Submit Entries to Design Gaithersburg Book Festival 15th Anniversary Program Cover

The Gaithersburg Book Festival is marking its 15th anniversary with an art contest for high school students in Montgomery County. The winning artwork, which will be judged on originality, creativity and overall effect, will be featured on the cover of the 2024 Gaithersburg Book Festival program,

Students can submit original artwork on the theme of “celebrating 15 years of books, writers and literary excellence” by no later than noon on Friday, Dec. 1. The Gaithersburg Book Festival is an annual all-day celebration of books, writers and literary excellence. It is one of the premier literary events in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

The 2024 Gaithersburg Book Festival program will be available to festival goers, as well as more than 100 featured authors and illustrators from around the world. More than 2,500 festival programs will be distributed, with the winning artist being credited by name and title of the artwork anywhere the program cover image appears. The winning artist and their family will receive an invitation to the exclave author reception that precedes the festival.

“The Gaithersburg Book Festival is not only renowned for the authors it attracts, but also award-winning illustrators and artists who express stories in images they create,” said Jud Ashman, the festival founder and chair, who also serves as Mayor of the City of Gaithersburg. "As we prepare for our 15th festival, we are proud to give students in our County the opportunity to express their creativity as they bring the mission of our Festival to life with their artwork.”

The submission guidelines include:

• Only one submission per artist.
• At the time of submitting their entry, the artist must be a high school student in grades 9-12; at a public or private school or homeschooled; and enrolled in the 2023-24 school year.
• The following, and their family members, are prohibited from participation in this contest: Employees of the City of Gaithersburg, City Councilmembers and all volunteers associated with the Gaithersburg Book Festival.

Up to 12 pieces of art will be selected as finalists. The finalists will have their artwork posted on the Gaithersburg Book Festival website prior to the festival and will be displayed at the 15th Gaithersburg Book Festival, which will take place on May 18 at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm in Gaithersburg.

Complete rules and regulations can be found on the GBF website. Questions can be emailed to Kathleen Benson at kathleen.benson@gaithersburgmd.gov.