2026 Photography Competition - Art & Soul Fest

The City of Thomaston will be hosting the 3rd Art & Soul Fest Photography Contest, as part of the 5th Annual Thomaston Art & Soul Festival.  

Photographs must communicate the contest theme; "Moments that Matter."  In small towns, life is made up of meaningful moments - quiet routines, share laughter, community traditions, and everyday connections.  This theme invites photographers to capture the simple, powerful moments that tell the story of small-town life and the people who make it special. 

Prints should be either matted or in a frame to be hung for display. Pieces must be brought to the City of Downtown Courthouse 11AM - 3PM, Friday, April 17th. Photographs will be displayed & open to the public for viewing until 8PM on the bottom floor of the Downtown Courthouse. Judging will take place at 4:00pm, any entries afterward will not be considered for placement

Prizes: 1st: $250, 2nd: $100, 3rd: $50  

Contestants will be required to submit printed photography for judging. Photo graphics can be no smaller than 8 x 10 and no larger than 16 x 20  inches.  Photographer name & name of photo must be printed on the back.

Photographs must communicate the contest theme; "Moments that Matter."  In small towns, life is made up of meaningful moments - quiet routines, share laughter, community traditions, and everyday connections.  This theme invites photographers to capture the simple, powerful moments that tell the story of small-town life and the people who make it special. 

Prints should be either matted or in a frame to be hung for display. Pieces must be brought to the Downtown Courthouse 11AM - 3PM, Friday, April 17th. Photographs will be displayed & open to the public for viewing until 8PM on the bottom floor of the Downtown Courthouse. Judging will take place at 4:00pm, any entries afterward will not be considered for placement

There will be First, Second, and Third Place cash prize winners. A People’s Choice award will also be given to the photographer whose piece allotted the most votes from Art & Soul Festival attendees.

First, Second, and Third place will be judged on the following criteria; 

Lighting

Composition

Creativity

Story

Subject Matter

Impact

NO DIGITAL VISUAL EFFECTS. Contestants MAY edit their picture in any way that does NOT include compositing unnatural imagery within the picture. For any questions, please reach out to 

Smckleroy@cityofthomaston.com

• The City of Thomaston, its employees, agents, contractors, sponsors, staff, volunteers, and the owners of property on which any activities take place, will not be responsible for any theft, loss, incident, accident, personal injury, or legal situations involving the photographer and/or personal property before, during, or after the competition.
• Photographers are responsible for providing any or all insurance to cover themselves, their photographs, and/or their property. This is not a requirement, but photographers assume the risks associated with participation in the event.
• By participating in this competition, photographers agree to follow these rules, behave as a professional, and conform to public and artistic ethics during the competition. Judges will have final discretion with respect to awards. The City of Thomaston reserves the right to adjudicate any work shown in the competition and sale.
• Participating photographers will allow the City of Thomaston to photograph all photographs and release to the City of Thomaston such images and work for promotional and publicity purposes.