The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts announced the recipients of $675 in awards for the 2026 Arts Festival Banner Competition and Exhibition.
A festival tradition, the banner competition showcases the creativity of local and regional artists while adding color and energy to the streets of downtown State College. Suspended above the festival grounds, the banners have become an iconic part of the Arts Festival’s visual identity, welcoming visitors and creating the festive atmosphere that has defined the event for six decades.
The winning banners, along with the other competition entries, were displayed throughout the festival.
Award winners were selected from 11 banner entries by a panel of jurors that included Cindy Rutschky, Rebecca Trunzo and Leslie Demmert.
In the General Class, Zoe Martin, of State College, won first place for her acrylic-on-canvas banner, “A Labor of Friendship.”
Second place went to Karen Norris and Colleen Shaffer, of State College, for their collaborative hand- and machine-appliquéd banner, “Clawdia Goes to Arts Fest.” Lynn Stewart, of Altoona, received third place for her painted canvas banner, “Stained Glass Fish.”
In the Professional Class, two artists and long-time contributors to the banner competition shared the top honors.
Co-first place was awarded to Marty Edmunds, of Boalsburg, for her appliquéd fabric banner, “Chef Jester Bakes the Anniversary Cake,” and to Joanie Eyster, of State College, for her acrylic-painted banner, “Oh My Darling.”
Edmunds has exhibited banners at the festival since 1981, and Eyster has participated since 1994.
“Their decades-long commitment to the competition—and the enduring quality of their work—represent an extraordinary legacy that has helped shape the festival’s signature look,” festival organizers wrote in a news release. “Working in distinctly different media yet demonstrating exceptional artistry and craftsmanship, both artists impressed this year’s jurors. Unable to select one over the other, the panel unanimously chose to award co-first-place honors in recognition of their artistic excellence and longstanding contributions to the festival.
The awards were presented during the Arts Festival Awards Ceremony on July 11 as part of the 60th Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
The 11 new banners for 2026 will join the growing collection that grace the streets of State College each year during the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
