Local artists are invited to help design the 2026 Clean Commute Day poster and promotional items handed out at the annual event that promotes sustainable transportation.

The event on Wednesday, June 17th, will feature morning commuter stations with breakfast and refreshments, giveaways, an evening community celebration, and a weeklong challenge leading up to the day.

The winner of this art competition will receive a $200 prize, a free 12-month Durango Transit pass, and have their artwork displayed on all marketing items. The timeline, competition and submission guidelines, and evaluation criteria are summarized below.

Timeline:

  • April 3 – May 1: Submissions accepted.
  • May 4 – 17: Public voting period.

  • May 18: Winners chosen and announced no later than 5 p.m. (MST).

Guidelines:

  • Artists are invited to submit a design that embraces the spirit of the event. Themes include biking, walking, rolling, carpooling, Durango Transit, our natural surroundings, Durango, sustainability, and morning-commute elements such as coffee or breakfast. The words “Clean Commute Day 2026,” are not mandatory, but please ensure the text is legible if included
  • The chosen winner will receive a free 12-month transit pass and $200, either via a Heart of Durango Dollars gift card or check, and will have their artwork proudly displayed on posters and promotional items used (schwag) to represent this year’s event.
  • Artists must submit their design via a digital format (i.e., SVG, PNG, JPEG, Adobe Illustrator, or similar file types). Artists may also submit a physical copy of their artwork at the Durango Transit Center, located at 250 W. 8th St.
  • The design submitted will be incorporated by the City of Durango into the final poster created by the City (including logos of participating businesses and sponsors) as well as a schwag design the City will order. Artists are encouraged to keep these two final products in mind when designing for this ‘call to artists’. Solid color or transparent backgrounds increase legibility and printability and are strongly encouraged.
  • Artists may NOT use artificial intelligence (AI) to create their design. The spirit of this competition is to celebrate and showcase the originality, creativity, and talent of our community members.

Evaluation Criteria:

    1 (lowest)

    2

    3 (neutral)

    4

    5 (highest)

    Percentage of votes

    Ease of adaptability and printability

    Community and event relevance

    Total:


  • Percentage of votes: submissions receiving less than 10% of votes will not receive a score, submissions receiving between 10% and 20% of votes will receive a 1, submissions receiving between 20% and 30% of votes will receive a 2, submissions receiving between 30% and 40% of votes will receive a 3, submissions receiving between 40% to 50% of votes will receive a 4, and any submissions receiving between 50% and 100% of votes will receive a 5.
  • Ease of adaptability and printability: simpler designs with fewer colors and backgrounds allow for ease of use of the design on the poster and different schwag formats and reduce printing costs for most types of schwag. Designs will receive a number between 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) depending on how closely they meet this criterion.
  • Community and event relevance: designs encompassing the character of this event and the Durango community are preferred, including incorporating the event’s elements listed above in the guidelines. Designs will receive a number between 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) depending on how closely they meet this criterion.

    • * There may be additional use for design(s) not chosen as the call to artist winner, including more complicated designs and ones with intricate backgrounds.

    Email GetAround.Durango@DurangoCO.gov with any questions