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Alaska Railroad Seeks Centennial Print Artist

Feb 11, 2022 | Media & Arts, News, Transportation

Jiawangkun | Dreamstime.com

The Alaska Railroad solicits artists to design commemorative prints every year, but the next one is very special. The official artwork coincides with the state-owned railroad’s 100th anniversary.

March 31 Deadline

For the 2023 commemorative print, the Alaska Railroad is looking for ideas and talent to visually depict the anniversary, marking 100 years since the Alaska Railroad was completed. Examples include the completion ceremony in Nenana, a progression of locomotive equipment, or railroad workers then and now. 

Entries are due March 31, 2022. Artists should submit a sketch no larger than 11 by 17 inches. To provide some style context, artists should also include several samples of their finished artwork.

The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) retains all rights to the artwork, from which the railroad will produce at least 250 signed and numbered prints, several thousand posters, and several thousand lapel pins. The railroad pays the artist $3,000 and provides ten artist proofs and twenty posters. The artist agrees to participate in print and poster sale-and-signing events in Anchorage and in Fairbanks (ARRC pays travel expenses).

Artists should mail or deliver submissions to the attention of John Simmons, Passenger Depot Services Manager:

  • Mailing address: Alaska Railroad, PO Box 107500, Anchorage, AK 99510-7500
  • Hand Delivery (call 907-265-2671 in advance to arrange a time):

ARRC Headquarters, 327 W. Ship Creek Avenue in Anchorage

  • Questions? Contact John Simmons at 907-265-2242, SimmonsJ@akrr.com, or Stephenie Wheeler at 907-265-2671, WheelerS@akrr.com
  • The railroad will notify the selected artist via telephone and by US mail by mid-April 2022. The railroad will return submitted materials to artists who include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, or who pick up their submitted materials in person. Submissions not picked up or mailed by the end of April will be discarded.

Dates to Remember:

Thursday, March 31, 2022 — print contest submissions must be received by 5:00 p.m.

Mid-April 2022 — Committee review complete; winning entry selected.

Mid-April 2022 — Artists are notified of contest results.

Friday, April 29, 2022 — Submissions must be retrieved.

Friday, May 6, 2022 — Submissions not retrieved will be discarded.

Friday, August 12, 2022 — Chosen artist must deliver completed artwork.

October / November 2022 — Art print and poster are released for sale to the public.

Last Quarter 2022 — Chosen artist participates in sale-and-signing events.

The railroad art print program was established in 1979. Past prints can be viewed on this PDF document from the Alaska Railroad website.

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