Bird of the Year

The American Robin has been named State College’s 2026 Bird of the Year. The Borough of State College’s Bird Town Committee is celebrating with a community-wide Visual Art Contest. After the success of the Bird of the Year Poetry Contest in June, the Bird Town Committee is inviting artists of all ages and experience levels to help the community honor this familiar and beloved bird through creative expression.

Whether you paint, draw, collage, sculpt, or work in another medium entirely, we want to see how the robins of State College inspire you. Artwork will be judged on creativity, originality, and how meaningfully it reflects the spirit, character, or presence of the American Robin in our community.

Winning pieces will be displayed in the Borough of State College Municipal Building. Winners will also receive a selection of bird‑themed prizes.

Below are the contest guidelines and submission requirements.

Contest Rules

• All submissions must be original and must not contain any elements that are protected by  another’s copyright. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo or image will not be accepted.
• Submissions may include past work from artists that are relevant to the topic, this work must be consistent with other listed requirements.
• The content of all submissions must be suitable for a public audience. Submissions must not contain explicit material, nudity, profanity, graphic violence, commercial solicitation, or promotion.
• AI generated artwork will not be accepted.
• Individual and team submissions will be accepted. Artists may submit work as an individual and as a team. 
• Any drawings, prints, watercolors, and photographs should already be framed or matted and should be securely wired for hanging.
• If you would like to utilize one of the Borough’s light weight frames, please reach out to the Sustainability Team with your piece's weight at sustainablestatecollege@statecollegepa.us. Frame dimensions are: 24” x 36” (can accommodate 2D only)
• Open to all ages and all levels of artistic experience
• If you wish to submit more than one piece of artwork, you can fill out the submission form again (max. Two entries per person)

Submission Information

All artwork must be submitted by Wednesday, September 23. Winning pieces will be announced in October and displayed in the Borough of State College Municipal Building.

Work can either be submitted via this form or by dropping off artwork at the Public Works department in the Municipal Building (243 South Allen Street, second floor).