Calling All Creators! Help us Build the 2026 Rockford Area Pride Parade Theme!

Andrew J. Mertzenich
2 days ago
2 min read

The Rockford Area Pride Committee is inviting local artists and designers to submit their creative ideas for the 2026 Pride Parade visual theme. The selected theme will shape our promotional materials, merchandise, signage, and digital presence for the entire 2026 celebration. This is your chance to help define the look and spirit of Rockford Pride!

What to Submit

We welcome a wide range of creative concepts, including:

A theme or concept for the 2026 parade
Sketches, illustrations, or design elements
Color palettes, symbols, shapes, or taglines
Written explanations or proposals outlining your vision

Submissions can be rough or polished—just be sure to include a clear description so the committee can fully understand your idea.

Who Can Submit

All artists and designers who live in or have ties to the Rockford area are welcome to participate.

Prize

The selected artist will receive a $100 cash prize, sponsored by the Law Office of Andrew J. Mertzenich.

How to Submit

Submit your idea online at: https://www.rockfordareapride.org/2026-submit

If you have issues with the form, email your submission to:📧 info@rockfordareapride.org

Deadline

All submissions are due by December 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST.

Ownership Notice

By submitting artwork to the Rockford Area Pride Committee (“RAPC”) for consideration in connection with the 2026 Rockford Area Pride Theme graphic sets, the submitting artist (“Artist”) acknowledges and agrees to the following terms:

Irrevocable License Grant. The Artist hereby grants to RAPC a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, publish, display, distribute, transmit, and otherwise utilize the submitted artwork, in whole or in part, in any media or format now known or later developed, for any purpose related to Rockford Area Pride.
Permission to Create Derivative Works. The Artist expressly grants RAPC the right to modify, adapt, alter, crop, edit, or otherwise create derivative works from the submitted artwork, and to use such derivative works in the same manner as the original submission.
Use in Graphic Sets and Related Materials. The Artist understands and agrees that the submitted artwork may be incorporated into the 2026 Rockford Area Pride Theme graphic sets and may also be used in promotional, advertising, fundraising, educational, or archival materials connected to RAPC or Rockford Area Pride.
Ownership and Originality. The Artist represents and warrants that the submitted artwork is their original creation and does not infringe upon the intellectual property or other rights of any third party. The Artist retains all copyrights not expressly licensed under this Agreement.
No Compensation. The Artist acknowledges that submission of artwork under this Agreement is voluntary and that, aside from any prize that may be awarded if their submission is selected, they will receive no compensation or royalties for RAPC’s use of the artwork.
Indemnification. The Artist agrees to indemnify and hold harmless RAPC, its officers, members, volunteers, and agents from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising out of or related to any breach of the Artist’s representations or the use of the submitted artwork as permitted herein.