Grand Canyon Conservancy Seeks Artists for New Arizona License Plate

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC), the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, is inviting artists of all ages who are legal residents of Arizona to help create a new symbol for the Grand Canyon State. 

Artists are encouraged to submit original artwork for Arizona's new Grand Canyon specialty license plate, a first-of-its-kind opportunity to create a work of art that may travel highways across the state while supporting one of the world's most iconic landscapes. 

Every Grand Canyon specialty license plate purchased provides a simple, voluntary way for Arizonans to celebrate Grand Canyon while investing directly in its future. Proceeds from the plates will support GCC’s partnership with Grand Canyon National Park by funding critical preservation, conservation, education, and visitor experience initiatives. 

"Grand Canyon belongs to all of us," said Elizabeth Silkes, CEO of Grand Canyon Conservancy. "This license plate is more than a beautiful design—it's an invitation for people to carry their love of Grand Canyon wherever they go while helping protect this extraordinary place for future generations. We can't wait to see how artists interpret the beauty, spirit, and significance of the canyon." 

 Funds generated through the specialty plate program will help support projects like: 

• Scientific research and conservation efforts addressing water scarcity, wildfire resilience, and the protection of native plants and wildlife. 
• Preservation of historic buildings, archaeological sites, and the cultural stories woven throughout the landscape. 
• Tribal co-stewardship initiatives that strengthen Indigenous partnerships, protect sacred places, elevate traditional knowledge, and ensure Tribal voices help shape the future of Grand Canyon. 
• Educational programs and visitor experiences including school field trips, distance learning, artist and scientist residencies, and other opportunities that deepen connections to the canyon. 

Artists are encouraged to create original designs that capture the spirit, beauty, and significance of Grand Canyon while meeting Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) requirements for specialty license plates. Inspiration may come from the canyon's dramatic landscapes, the Colorado River, wildlife, cultural heritage, or the sense of wonder the park inspires in millions of visitors each year. The selected artist will receive a $1,000 cash award. 

 Contest Timeline 

• Submissions Open: Monday, August 10, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. MST 
• Submission Deadline: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. MST 
• Public Voting: October 5–11, 2026 
• Winner Announced: Week of October 12, 2026 

Design Requirements 

Designs must: 

• Feature a recognizable Grand Canyon National Park-inspired image spanning the plate. 
• Maintain sufficient color contrast and readability for license plate numbers. 
• Include "ARIZONA" at the top of the plate. 
• Include "Grand Canyon Conservancy" in the lower legend area. 
• Follow all Arizona Department of Transportation license plate design standards. 
• Be entirely original and not AI-generated. 
• Be free of copyright or trademark infringement. 

Final designs are subject to review and modification as necessary to comply with ADOT and law enforcement readability standards. 

Submission Information 

Entries must be submitted electronically through CrowdRiff in JPEG, PNG, or PDF format. Files must have a minimum resolution of 72 ppi and may not exceed 16 MB. The winning artist will be required to provide a layered, editable version of the artwork, with vector artwork preferred. 

Complete contest rules, design specifications, ADOT guidelines, and submission instructions are available here. 

Submissions may be uploaded at: https://upload.crowdriff.com/grand-canyon-conservancy-72339d67 

No purchase is necessary to enter. Entries are limited to individual artists (no agencies). Grand Canyon Conservancy reserves the right to disqualify submissions containing inappropriate, offensive, or politically partisan content. The selected artist will grant Grand Canyon Conservancy and the Arizona Department of Transportation an exclusive, perpetual worldwide license for use of the winning design on the specialty license plate and related marketing materials. Non-winning artists retain ownership of their submitted artwork. 

About Grand Canyon Conservancy 

Grand Canyon Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, raising private funds, operating retail shops within the park, and providing educational programs about the natural and cultural history of the region. Our members fund projects including trails and historic building preservation, educational programs for the public, and the protection of wildlife and their natural habitat. Grand Canyon Conservancy inspires generations of park champions to cherish and support the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon. For more information, visit www.grandcanyon.org.