Taste of Buffalo seeks local artists for poster art contest

The Taste of Buffalo, presented by Tops Friendly Markets, is inviting local artists (students and the general public alike) to capture its essence in art by entering in the 2024 poster art contest.

This year’s festival is taking place July 13-14 in Niagara Square and on a portion of Delaware Avenue. Presale food ticket vouchers will be available for purchase at Tops Markets locations beginning in June.

The poster art contest, which kicks off Feb. 25, invites individuals 13 years of age and older to submit their original works of art that best convey the feel and flavor of this summertime food festival. Artwork must include a fork and at least one image of food. Entries will be accepted until April 12. Two cash prizes of $500 will be awarded (one in each of two age categories – children/13-17 years of age and adult/18-plus years of age).

One grand-prizewinner will then be selected from the two finalists. That person will receive an additional $500, and their artwork will become the official 2024 Taste of Buffalo poster (and may be used in some of the Taste’s other marketing materials). The entries will be judged and the winners will be announced on or about April 25. A complete list of rules and design guidelines can be found on the Tops website at https://www.topsmarkets.com/tasteofbuffalo and on www.tasteofbuffalo.com.

"Buffalo's food and art scenes are two defining characteristics of what makes our region so special and unique, so we encourage any interested artists to participate in this year's poster art contest," 2024 TOB Chairman Tom Mahoney said. "We can't wait to review all of the entries and showcase Buffalo artists' talents and creativity."

Based in Williamsville, Tops Markets currently operates 148 grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, including five that are run by franchisees. For more information, visit www.topsmarkets.com.

The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops is the nation’s largest two-day food festival. Named winner of USA Today’s 2023 10BEST Reader’s Choice Travel Award Contest for “Best City Food Festival,” the Taste is a not-for-profit organization with more than 1,000 volunteers helping to put on the annual event. More than $575,000 has been raised at the festival for local charities in addition to scholarships awarded annually to local high school seniors pursuing a culinary or hospitality-related degree. For more information, visit tasteofbuffalo.com.