ARTIST OPEN CALL FOR FIBARK 2026

The 2026 festival theme—The River Unites Us

OVERVIEW

FIBArk Community Paddling Center (FCPC) is pleased to announce an open call for artist submissions for the 2026 FIBArk Festival, the nation’s oldest whitewater festival held annually in Salida, Colorado. For nearly a century, FIBArk has celebrated community, river culture, paddling, and the shared heritage of adventure in the American West.

The 2026 festival theme—The River Unites Us—invites artists to capture the spirit of connection, nostalgia, and the enduring camaraderie that the Arkansas River inspires. A sub-heading for this theme that can be used in the artwork is “from ripples to reflections”.

We are seeking artwork that draws from a vintage Americana aesthetic, with elements of nostalgia, varsity-athletics-inspired design, and red–white–blue color variations. Winning artwork will be featured on festival posters, merchandise, digital media, event marketing and other festival materials. The selected artist will be acknowledged and promoted via festival channels.

The selected artist will receive a $1,000 honorarium.

Submission Deadline: February 1, 2026

Eligibility

This call is open to all artists, illustrators, designers, and creatives who reside full-time in the Arkansas Valley region. Both emerging and established artists are welcome to apply.

Scope of Work

The selected artist will create a cohesive set of visual materials that reflect the theme The River Unites Us and will be used across various channels, including:

The official 2026 festival poster
Merchandise (shirts, hats, stickers, etc.)
Event signage and wayfinding
Digital and print marketing materials

Artists should be comfortable developing artwork in a style that incorporates:

Vintage Americana themes
Nostalgic and varsity-inspired typography or motifs
A palette centered around red, white, and blue variations
Imagery connected to whitewater, paddling, river culture, adventure, and community

Compensation & Rights

The selected artist will receive a $1,000 payment for their work.

By submitting materials for this RFP, artists acknowledge that the final selected artwork and associated files will be sold to FIBArk Community Paddling Center. FCPC will retain full rights and ownership and may use, reproduce, modify, or adapt the artwork in any manner deemed appropriate to advance the mission of the organization and promote the FIBArk Festival. Applicants whose work is not selected will retain full rights to their submissions.

Submission Requirements

Applicants must submit a single PDF file that includes the following:

1. Artist Information

Full Name
Phone Number
Email Address
Website, social media, or online portfolio link (if applicable)

2. Short Artist Biography

A brief bio (150–250 words) describing your background, artistic style, and relevant experience working with illustration, poster design, or brand/merchandise artwork.

3. Artwork Submission

3–5 images of original artwork that reflect how you might approach the 2026 festival visuals. These may include:

Example poster designs
Merchandise art
Illustrations or branding-style compositions
Works demonstrating your aesthetic alignment with vintage Americana, nostalgia, varsity themes, or river/outdoor culture

Files should be provided in high-resolution within the PDF for review.

Submission Instructions

All materials must be submitted as a single PDF attachment.
Applications must be emailed to: fibark.colorado@gmail.com
Subject line: FIBArk 2026 Artist Submission – [Your Name]
Deadline for submissions: February 1, 2026 (11:59 PM MST)

Selection Process & Timeline

Proposals will be reviewed by the FIBArk Community Paddling Center Board of Directors. Evaluation will consider artistic quality, alignment with the festival theme, ability to translate artwork across merchandise and print, and connection to river and outdoor culture.

Submission Deadline: February 1, 2026
Artist Selection / Notification: March 1, 2026
Final Artwork Delivery: Timeline to be determined with the selected artist

About FIBArk Community Paddling Center

FIBArk Community Paddling Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to river sports, water safety education, and community connection through paddling. Proceeds from the festival and associated merchandise support youth programs, community outreach, and river stewardship initiatives along the Arkansas River.