Press Releases

City of Sebastopol and Sebastopol Center for the Arts Announce “Picturing Sebastopol” Photo Contest for City Relaunch Project

Calling all Shutterbugs to Share Their Photos of Sebastopol

SEBASTOPOL Calif., May 02, 2022 – The city of Sebastopol and Sebastopol Center for the Arts are co-sponsoring a “Picturing Sebastopol” photo contest. Photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to capture images of something special about the town, the essence of what makes Sebastopol unique, and why residents and visitors alike love it. The entries will be displayed during the upcoming "Celebrate Sebastopol" Town Party on June 18, 2022, at Ives Park.

“As part of the Relaunch Sebastopol project, we want to collect great photos of our town with this photo contest. We're looking for photographs of iconic Sebastopol places, scenes, and experiences — pictures that really say ‘This is Sebastopol’ to use in our marketing,” said Laura Hagar Rush, contractor for Relaunch Sebastopol.

Catherine Devriese, creative director for Sebastopol Center for the Arts, said “We are passionate about making art accessible to everyone and this photo contest is a perfect example of that. It’s a great opportunity for all of us to celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of Sebastopol through the lens of photographers here in Sonoma County.”

The Relaunch Sebastopol team will use the photos in marketing efforts that include campaigns to increase tourism, the creation of a brand identity for the town, a website for visitors, increased social media and more.

Photo Contest Rules

Each participant can enter two images by uploading the photos to the online entry form before the deadline on May 31, 2022. Rules and directions, as well as photo release forms, are available at RelaunchSebastopol.com.

The “Picturing Sebastopol” judges will be recommended by Sebastopol Center for the Arts and chosen by Townie Media, the contractor for Relaunch Sebastopol. The “Picturing Sebastopol” judges maintain sole discretion in selecting winning photographs.

Winners will be announced on Friday, June 8, 2022. The first-place winner will receive a $250 gift certificate to the restaurant of his/her choice in Sebastopol (or $250 in cash). The second-place winner receives a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant of his/her choice in Sebastopol (or $100 in cash) and the third-place winner receives a $50 gift certificate to the restaurant of his/her choice in Sebastopol (or $50 in cash).

Sebastopol Landscapes, Not Pets

Images accepted include Sebastopol landscapes, favorite places in town, people having fun in Sebastopol, best Sebastopol experiences, and anything else that expresses something special about Sebastopol. No pictures of pets, please.

About Relaunch Sebastopol

The Sebastopol City Council awarded Townie Media the Relaunch Sebastopol contract for this year. The project focuses on creating marketing campaigns to increase tourism and attract new businesses to town; improving the look and allure of Sebastopol’s old downtown and other shopping districts; and increasing community engagement through art, events, and better communication so that residents know what’s going on in their town and how to get involved. For more information visit relaunchsebastopol.com.

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For More Information

Laura Hagar Rush

Relaunch Sebastopol

hagarlaura@gmail.com

707-322-8696

Townie Media wins Relaunch contract

After a competitive bidding process, the Sebastopol City Council voted today in a special meeting to award Townie Media the Relaunch Sebastopol contract.

“We are proud and acutely aware of the trust they’ve put in us in awarding this contract,” Townie Media founder Laura Hagar Rush said. “We spent months researching economic development plans from similar-sized cities with similiar demographics from around the country before our writing our proposal, which concentrates on three areas:

1) Creating marketing campaigns to increase tourism and attract new businesses to town;

2) Improving the look and allure of Sebastopol’s old downtown and other shopping districts; and

3) Increasing community engagement through art, events, and better communication so that residents know what’s going on in their town and how to get involved.”