Epiphone Guitar Design Contest

The Epiphone Guitar Design contest is open to all high school and middle school students living in East Tennessee. Several guitar designs created by youth artists will be selected for implementation and exhibition. The art guitars will be displayed at the Dogwood Arts Gallery in Knoxville, TN and at Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. The guitars will be auctioned to benefit youth programs at Dogwood Arts. Proceeds from the guitar auction directly support Dogwood Arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and celebrating the art, culture, and natural beauty of East Tennessee since 1955. Funds raised help provide youth art programs, exhibitions, and access to creative resources for local students. By participating, young artists not only share their talent with the community but also help ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to learn, create, and grow through the arts. Winning designers will each receive $50 for art supplies and complimentary tickets to Dollywood; additional cash prizes will be awarded to select artists at the exhibition reception. Students create a unique design on the guitar template attached to this form (also available online). Students give the template and application form back to their art educator/guardian Application Deadline: Art educators/guardians send the guitar designs and completed applications to Dogwood Arts by January 30, 2026. - Applications can be submitted online at with photos of the work or mailed directly to: -Dogwood Arts ATTN: Raina Weber 123 W. Jackson Avenue Knoxville, TN 37902 Notification Date: Winning designs will be selected and notifications sent out by February 13, 2026 Epiphone guitars will be delivered to art educators by the end of February The Art Guitars need to be completed and returned to Dogwood Arts by Friday, April 17th, 2026. - Dogwood Arts will coordinate retrieving guitars from art educators. Guitars can be dropped off at the Dogwood Arts Office at 123 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902 Online Auction: will be live from May 1 - June 22, 2026 Guitar Display: Guitars will be displayed in the Dogwood Arts Gallery (Knoxville), May 1 - May 30, 2025 - An exhibition reception and awards ceremony will take place on Friday, May 2nd at the Dogwood Arts Gallery from 5-8 PM (Awards at 6 PM) - Select guitars will also be on display at Dollywood's HeartSong Resort June 2nd - 22nd, 2026