St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer is tapping into the city's wellspring of artistic talent with the announcement of the 2025 Mayor’s Holiday Card Contest. According to a release on the City of St. Louis' official website, this year the contest opens its doors to all city residents, aiming to share the diverse creative spirit and highlight local artists within the community.
Participants are encouraged to submit their interpretation of the holiday spirit through original designs, fitting a universal theme suitable for all religions. While being respectful of the city's diversity, the artwork has to maintain a maximum size of 8.5" x 11" and should be submitted in PNG format. Capturing the festival of St. Louis, the spirit of Mardi Gras, the contribution of the city's laborers, or the strides made in sustainability are the themes centering this year's submissions.
Making the creative challenge even more enticing, the selection committee is composed of influential community figures, including Shawn Stokes from the Mayor’s Office, Jayvn Solomon of the Recovery Office, and former Kansas City Mayor Sly James. They, along with other distinguished members, will distill the art submissions down to the top ten entries. These entries will feature on the cover of Mayor Spencer’s holiday cards and will be showcased during a special ceremony and display in City Hall. All qualifying artwork must reach the Mayor's Office by December 5, 2025, to be considered in the competition.
For any interested artists or creatives wishing to throw their hat in the ring, they're just an email away from potentially having their art become a symbol of holiday cheer throughout St. Louis. All submission details and contest guidelines can be found on the official announcement from the City of St. Louis website.
