The Adelaide Fringe Poster competition is as iconic as the festival itself and once again the hunt is on to find a design to represent Australia’s biggest arts festival.

Each year since the birth of the festival in 1960, the Adelaide Fringe hero image has been a poster competition entry, with previous winners including artists such as Bronwyn Platten, Driller Jet Armstrong, Sue Ninham, Pro Hart and Jonathon Oxlade.

Adelaide Fringe is inviting creatives, artists and graphic designers from all over Australia and across the globe to submit their ideas for the 2019 Adelaide Fringe poster.

From beginners with a unique concept to graphic design gurus and amazing visual artists, the competition is open to everyone.

Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall said the Fringe is on the lookout for a dramatic and engaging image to represent the festival.

“We’re looking for a poster that aligns with our values – something that represents the colourful, playful, inclusive and cheeky spirit of the Adelaide Fringe,” Ms Croall said.

“In 2019 Adelaide is set to come alive once again as we reach for the stars to create a Fringe bigger and brighter than ever before – the Fringe is for everyone and it takes all sorts to create a Fringe … we want a poster design that captures our diverse, colourful and inclusive spirit.” 

The design is used as the cover of the Fringe Guide and is plastered across Adelaide in the lead-up to the festival, so it needs to be something that turns heads

The Adelaide Fringe, which attracts about 6000 performers and records more than 2.7 million attendances, continues to grow each year with help from a passionate community of artists and audiences.

Along with a $3000 cash prize, the winning designer will be offered free registration if they would like to stage an event or exhibition at next year’s Fringe, and their work will join the dozens of other iconic Fringe posters that have made their mark on the festival’s history. 

Ms Croall said the poster competition had proved to be a career springboard for previous winning artists and designers since its inception.

Australian and international designers and artists are invited to submit a design and entry is free. Poster designs may incorporate a range of materials and mediums, but the final entry must be a two-dimensional representation of these ideas.

The competition is now open and entries must be submitted by Monday, May 21, at 5pm ACST.

The winning poster design will be revealed to the public later this year.

The 2019 Adelaide Fringe will run from February 15 to March 17.