feb-07

Creative Posters Draw Attention to Your Event

When it’s time to create a poster to promote an upcoming event, some creative brainstorming and hands-on involvement from your volunteers can help ensure that your poster will be noticed, and that people will remember the name of your organization even if they cannot attend the event.

Large printing budgets are always an advantage, but not essential for making a good impression — creativity doesn’t have to have a high price tag.

 

  • Recruit a noted local artist — Ask a popular artist to donate his or her time to illustrate your poster, and give credit and publicity in return. The more posters that are displayed in the community, the greater the exposure to that artist’s work. Auction the original at your event and split the proceeds between the artist and your organization.

     

  • Have an art contest — A few months before your event, put out a “call to artists” including your own volunteers to design a poster for your activity. Create a press release for media outlets to serve a dual purpose. You can attract creative people to participate in your organization with designs, and get valuable advance publicity for your event. Display all entries in a public location at your facility to draw people in both the day of and even before your fund raiser or special event.

     

  • Involve volunteers and families — Make a fun art project out of your event poster by providing blank sheets printed only with the time, date, place and other essential information. Leave the main area blank and provide art supplies and a basic design for volunteers and their families to copy. Schedule a date, provide some refreshments. Set up work areas with all the same materials and set them loose to have fun and improvise. Some media might even be interested in covering this creative activity. Place an announcement in the newspaper inviting families and artistic people to attend.

     

  • Ask kids with computers to design for you — Youngsters are very creative artists, and most are very comfortable with all phases of computer activity. Ask some local schools to spread the word that a young artist is needed to create a poster for your fund raiser. Set a few rules to keep the playing field level, such as “create design in Windows Paint Program.” They can submit their completed designs on disk, or e-mail them to you.

These are just a few ideas to help you see the potential for tremendous creativity that can attract positive media attention to your organization and event while keeping costs in line. They can also help you attract potential volunteers by asking them to participate in a project that will allow them to use their special talents for a great cause.