CHARLOTTE – The Art Institute of Charlotte and Americans for the Arts invite local high school seniors and graduates to enter the 2012 poster design contest.

This year’s competition challenges participants from throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico to design a poster that best expresses the theme, “You Can Create Tomorrow.” Contestants will compete in high school senior or high school graduate/adult categories.

The local winner in the high school senior category will earn a $3,000 scholarship to the Art Institute of Charlotte, while the local second place winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The local first-place winner in the high school graduate category will receive a $1,000 scholarship to the school.

The local first place winners in both categories will go on to compete in the National Poster Design Competition. The national grand prize winner in the high school senior category will earn a full-tuition scholarship to an Art Institutes school, and the national winner in the high school graduate/adult category will earn a $10,000 scholarship to an Art Institutes school.

“We are inspired by the creativity that students exhibit in the artwork they create for this competition and believe that this scholarship competition helps some of our most talented students achieve their goals,” said Maurice Lee, president of the Art Institute of Charlotte.

To see full entry requirements and learn how to enter the contest, go online to www.artinstitutes.edu/postercompetition. Entries will be accepted until Feb. 3.