The purpose of this annual competition is to select an original design to be used on the festival T-shirts as well as other promotional materials. Sponsored by the UGA Arts Council and the Lamar Dodd School of Art, the competition is open to any current University of Georgia student.
2024 Competition
The first-place artwork was designed by Merritt Helton, a third-year advertising student in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Merritt’s design will be featured on the 2024 Spotlight on the Arts T-shirts as well as other limited-edition festival merch.
“When sketching designs, incorporating a spotlight was a consistent choice,” Merritt said about creating the design. “I wanted to express the energy of the arts in a literal yet playful way and create something that felt fun. It’s an honor to have my work featured at such an important festival at UGA, and I’m excited to contribute to this celebration of creativity.”
Second-place winner: Sims Alligood, a second-year exercise and sport science student in the Mary Frances Early College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology.
Third-place winner: Addison Denney, a first-year political science student in the School of Public and International Affairs’ Department of Political Science.
“I knew I wanted to encompass the eclecticism of art,” Megan said about her process of creating the design. “I wanted it to feel like art itself, for people to wear and remember the unique things they saw at the festival. It really means a lot to me personally to be the winner for such a big festival at UGA, and it’s a great opportunity for my graphic design experience.”
