Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) is inviting the public to participate in the new Bus Wrap Photo Contest, a creative competition that celebrates the beauty, wildlife, and landscapes of the Monterey Bay through original photography.
As part of METRO’s One Ride at a Time initiative, the contest will give participants the opportunity to submit original photography that reflects the region’s natural beauty, environmental stewardship, and the role public transit plays in connecting the community.
Selected winning submission(s) will be featured on a full METRO bus wrap and highlighted in official METRO marketing materials. This competition and resulting bus wraps are funded entirely through METRO’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant. These restricted capital funds cannot be used to operate bus service or pay other operating expenses.
The contest builds on METRO’s existing One Ride at a Time bus wrap series, which features imagery from local photographers showcasing iconic scenes from across the Monterey Bay, from redwood forests to coastal wildlife.
“We are excited to invite the community to help shape this campaign in a new and meaningful way,” said Danielle Frost, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer. “This contest is an opportunity to celebrate local creativity while highlighting the places, ecosystems, and everyday experiences that make the Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz County so special.”
The contest includes a community photography category and an employee photography category. Proposed submission themes include nature, sustainability, transit, and environmental stewardship.
Photography submissions are expected to include high-resolution horizontal images taken within the Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz County, along with a title, location, and brief artist statement.
Final submission requirements, contest rules, and waiver details are available on METRO’s website scmetro.org/artintransit. Contest closes Aug. 21.
Winning artists will receive public recognition through having their photo featured as a bus wrap that will be seen throughout the county, social media channels, and press outreach, with their work featured as part of the One Ride at a Time marketing campaign.
Contest details, submission instructions, and deadlines will be announced at scmetro.org/artintransit. To learn more about the One Ride at a Time initiative, visit scmetro.org/onerideatatime.