Call for Art: 2026 Garrett Arts Passport Stamp Designs

The Garrett County Arts Council in partnership with the Deep Creek Lake State Park & Deep Creek Discovery Center is seeking two original black and white stamp designs for the 2026 Garrett Arts Passport Program.

• One design for Deep Creek Lake State Park
• One design for Deep Creek Discovery Center

These designs will become physical ink stamps used inside the Passport Booklet. They will also appear on select souvenir items sold in the Deep Creek Lake State Park gift shop. Proceeds support the parks system and promote local artists.

The Passport Program encourages people to explore Garrett County. Each stamp marks a visit, a trail walked, something learned.

Compensation

Selected artists receive $300 total per design:
$150 from the Garrett County Arts Council and $150 from the Maryland Park Service for merchandise use.

Design Direction

Deep Creek Lake State Park
Think shoreline, forest, wildlife, mountains, or a simple moment outdoors. The image should feel rooted in this landscape.

Deep Creek Discovery Center
Think learning, conservation, native species, curiosity, and Appalachian ecology. The design should feel welcoming and clear.

All Passport stamps are circular. Designs must fit within a circle.

Artwork must be black and white only. No mid tones. High contrast. Simple. Bold. Avoid fine details that may fill in when stamped.

There is no preferred medium for submission. Sharpie on paper works just as well as digital artwork.

No religious or political content.
No copyrighted material.
No generative AI imagery.

Eligibility

Open to artists from Garrett County and contiguous counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Part time GCAC staff and Discovery Center staff and volunteers may apply.
Full time GCAC staff and Board Members are not eligible.

Students may submit with a parent or legal guardian sponsor.

What to Submit

• A 100 to 300 word concept explaining your idea
• A clear sketch or mockup of the design
• Optional examples of previous work

If selected, artists must provide a 300 dpi black and white image file in .jpg or .png format.
No .heic or .heif files.

Designs will be selected by a panel of GCAC and Discovery Center staff.

Timeline

Design Submission Deadline: April 23, 2026
Final File Due for Selected Designs: May 4, 2026

This is a small piece of artwork that will travel far. Visitors will press it into their passports and carry it with them. Keep it simple. Keep it strong.

Questions & Submission
Rachel Precht
Artistic Program Manager
Garrett County Arts Council
rachel@garrettarts.org