ArtPop Artist Cohort
2026 Open Call
Launching Soon - Stay Tuned!
Soon, ArtPop will invite artists within the Charlotte region (NC & SC) to apply for our 2026 Open Call!
24 local artists (19 Adults and 5 High School Seniors) will be selected through a jury process for ArtPop’s 2026 Artist Cohort. This flagship program activates public spaces with engaging art, and empowers local creatives through educational, marketing, and networking benefits.
Artists should read through the Submission Guidelines below for crucial requirements and directions to prepare to apply when the Open Call launches.
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Submission Guidelines
↓ Read Before Applying ↓
Important Dates:
TBA: Open Call Begins
TBA: Application Deadline
TBA: All applicants are notified
TBA: Public announcement
TBA: Billboard installations begin and continue throughout the year
TBA: 2026 Artist Cohort program ends
Steps to Apply:
Review All Submission Guidelines: Carefully read the requirements below first. Applications which fail to follow the Submission Guidelines are ineligible.
Format Your Artwork File: Follow the specifications to properly crop and format your artwork file. Images that are improperly formatted are ineligible.
Apply Via CaFÉ: All applications will be accepted exclusively via CaFÉ. Applying artists must first register for a free CaFÉ account, then submit your application.
Application Checklist
What You’ll Need to Apply:
Formatted Artwork File
A digital image file of your artwork which follows all Artwork Requirements listed below - properly cropped & formatted.
Brief Artist Statement
A short statement describing your artwork and why you’re applying. Students should describe academic plans in the arts.
Artist Website / Social Media Profile
Adult applicants must have both.
Student Applicants are only required to have an artist social media profile.
CaFÉ Account (Registration is Free)
Applications are only accepted via CaFÉ, so all applicants must first register for a free account before applying.
Application Processing Fee
$35 for adults.
$10 for students.
Entry fees cover the cost of the CaFÉ application system.
Artist Eligibility
Artists must meet all of the requirements below are eligible to apply:
Residential Requirements
All applicants must currently reside in one of the following counties: Cabarrus (NC), Catawba (NC), Cleveland (NC), Gaston (NC), Iredell (NC), Lincoln (NC), Mecklenburg (NC), Rowan (NC), Stanly (NC), Union (NC), or York County (SC).
Age Requirements
Adult applicants must be 18 years or older.
High School Senior applicants do not need to meet any age requirements, but must be enrolled in their final year of high school, and should be planning to study the arts through higher education following graduation.
Social Media / Website Requirements
Adult applicants must have both an active artist website and a social media profile related to their artist practice.
High School Senior applicants are required to have a social media profile related to their artist practice, but are not required to have a website.
ArtPop “Alumni” from Past Program Years
Artists who have been juried into any past year of ArtPop’s Artist Cohort (previously known as the 'Cities Program’) are not eligible to reapply at this time.
We highly encourage our Alumni Artists to learn about how they can get involved with ArtPop’s additional programs.
Requirements for Juried-In Artists
This is more than just an opportunity to showcase your artwork on billboards. ArtPop’s Artist Cohort program is a mutually-beneficial partnership between the juried-in artists, ArtPop and our program sponsors, and the regional community.
All 24 juried-in artists will be required to participate in ways listed below, and failure to do so will result in their removal from the program, incurring fees to cover billboard printing costs:
Engage with ArtPop’s Mission - Artists who participate in ArtPop’s events and activities will make more connections and benefit more from the program’s offerings.
Provide High-Resolution Artwork Images - Juried-in artists must provide high-resolution image files (both un-cropped & cropped) to be used for ArtPop billboards & displays.
Attend the Private Reveal Event - All 24 juried-in artists are expected to join on April 22nd, 2026, where they will be honored and welcomed into the program.
Participate on Social Media - Each month in 2026, juried-in artists will be required to make at least one public social media feed post about your involvement in the program. Those artists will be provided with a guide of tips and suggestions to make this easy!
Website Acknowledgement - Selected artists with websites will be required to to add content to their website about their participation in the Artist Cohort program, with a live link directing visitors to ArtPop’s website.
Artwork Requirements
Artworks must meet all of following requirements to be eligible for submission:
One Artwork Submission Per Artist
Each applicant may submit exactly one (1) original artwork. Group and collaborative submissions are not eligible.
Artwork Must Be Original & Meet Content Regulations
Original artworks of any medium (traditional & digital) are eligible for this opportunity.
Plagiarized images, copyright infringement, and works created for paid commission projects are ineligible and will be disqualified. Images created with the assistance of Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) are not eligible. Per billboard regulations, artworks depicting smoking, nudity, slander, religion or copyrighted brand images, logos, and characters are ineligible and will be disqualified.
Artwork Must Be Cropped & Formatted
Submitted artworks must be properly cropped & formatted to be eligible. Artists may use the artwork cropping guide and Photoshop template below to ensure your file meets the necessary specifications:
5MB maximum file size*
Exact dimensions: 7300px wide x 2200px high, at 300DPI
Does not include the rectangular ArtPop brand label
*Note: If your artwork is selected for the Artist Cohort program, you will be required to provide high-resolution files of your accepted artwork, both cropped and un-cropped.
About the Jury Process
ArtPop’s Artist Cohort is a juried opportunity. All eligible submissions will be blind-reviewed by a jury of artists and art-lovers after the application deadline. Jurors will not have access to the applying artists’ identities, only the artwork image.
All artworks are first reviewed based on whether or not they meet the Submission Guidelines outlined here. Artworks that do not meet the Submission Guidelines are ineligible and will be disqualified.
Eligible artworks are then judged based on their successful artistic execution, and based on potential impact as a public art display. Artworks are considered both individually and collectively to curate a cohesive group with a variety of artistic mediums represented.
Artwork Submission Template
The easiest way to ensure your art submission file is properly cropped & formatted is to use the provided Photoshop template:
Note: Adobe Photoshop software and an active subscription will be required to use the template.
How to Use the Artwork Submission Template:
The template file is sized to billboard proportions 7300px wide x 2200px high, at 300DPI, and set to RGB Color Mode. It contains layers to allow you to correctly cropping your artwork and test placement of the ArtPop brand label.
Add Your Artwork - Copy the full image from your high resolution artwork file, then paste it into the layer titled “YOUR ART HERE.” You can then move your artwork within this layer to chose your cropping preference.
Consider the Brand Label - This will be on either the left or right side of every billboard, containing the ArtPop logo, artist name, and sponsor representation. Use the layers titled “Left Label” and “Right Label” to best coordinate with your artwork.
Hide All Brand Label Layers - Do not submit your artwork with the Brand Label visible. ArtPop’s designers will place the labels on the selected artworks.
Save Your Submission File - Head to File > Save a Copy. Select “JPEG” as your file format, then select “Save.” A JPEG Options box will pop-up. By selecting ✓ Preview you can see the file size of your to-be-saved image. Toggle the Quality slider to ensure your file size will be under 5mb. Then, select OK to finish saving.
You’re Ready to Apply! - Head over to CaFÉ to fill out the Open Call application form.
Need Assistance?
If you are not comfortable with editing programs or are unfamiliar with this process, we recommend you seek out a professional photographer and / or graphic designer who understands the specs so your submission looks its best!
Cropping Your Artwork
Submitted artworks must be pre-cropped to the billboard format. Uncropped submissions will not be accepted.
ArtPop’s artist billboards also include the artist’s name and ArtPop logo within a rectangular “brand label” on either the left or right side. The brand labels are included in the templates for reference only, but your submission should not include this brand label - just your cropped artwork.
Artwork with Label
❌ Don’t Submit
Uncropped Artwork
❌ Don’t Submit
Cropped Artwork with No Brand Label
✅ Ready to Submit
Frequently Asked Questions
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Please stay tuned for more details about our 2026 Open Call, including all important dates.
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ArtPop’s Artist Cohort is a juried opportunity. All eligible submissions will be blind-reviewed by a jury of artists and art-lovers after the application deadline. Jurors will not have access to the applying artists’ identities, only the artwork image.
All artworks are first reviewed based on whether or not they meet the Submission Guidelines outlined here. Artworks that do not meet the Submission Guidelines are ineligible and will be disqualified.
Eligible artworks are then judged based on their successful artistic execution, and based on potential impact as a public art display. Artworks are considered both individually and collectively to curate a cohesive group with a variety of artistic mediums represented.
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Application fees are for adults are $35, and $10 for high school seniors.
The application fees collected during our Open Call directly fuels ArtPop's use of the paid CaFÉ service for our Open Call. Any remaining amount will be put towards printing costs for the 2026 artist billboards & displays.
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No. Artists of all stages in their artistic careers are welcome to apply.
The best fit for the Annual Cohort is any artist who is actively engaged in creating, connecting with the greater Charlotte-region arts community, and growing their career as an artist!
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Since 2014, ArtPop has featured Charlotte-area artists on regional billboards and public advertising displays. These artists also receive additional benefits including features at artist events, and a connection to a thriving creative community!
Because the program is ever growing, there is always potential for even more opportunities to arise (such as art displays outside of the Charlotte region) - these potential opportunities are situational and are never guaranteed.
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• High-Resolution Images - If your artwork is selected for the billboard art exhibit program, you will then be required to provide high-resolution image files, both uncropped & cropped, to be used for artist billboards & displays.
• Program Reveal Event - All 20 selected artists are expected to join us for our private Class of 2026 Reveal Event, where they will be honored and welcomed into the program.
• Social Media Participation - Each month in 2026, program artists will be required to make one public social media feed post about your involvement in the program. Those artists will be provided with a Social Media Guide containing content tips and suggestions to make this easy!
• Website Acknowledgement - Selected artists will be required to to add content to your website letting visitors know about your participation in ArtPop’s billboard art exhibit program, with a live link directing them to our website.
Still have questions? Get in touch with our team using the Contact page.
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