The calendar hasn't even flipped to the new year yet, and already organizers of the 2025 Jazz & Arts Festival are working feverishly on next July's event.

Part of that is issuing a call out for visual artists.

Yes, the festival is probably best known for the musical component of the four-day event. But from day one, the visual arts have also played an important role in the festival.

Co-Founder and executive director Karen Zukas confirmed they are looking for an artist to create the art for the 2025 festival 鈥� which would appear on everything from event posters and postcards, to programs, T-shirts, street banners, and online material.

"If you鈥檙e an established or emerging visual artist in the Fraser Valley, the Fort 91原创 Jazz & Arts Festival invites you to submit a work of art for the 2025 festival," Zukas said, noting the deadline is Jan. 31.

This year鈥檚 theme is 鈥淏ridges of Sound and Art,鈥� Zukas explained, so the festival is looking for artwork that depicts how the event "builds bridges between people, music, cultures and art, and creates connections through shared experiences."

The selected artist will receive a $750 honourarium and recognition in various festival communications.

Previous winners were Molly Gray, Lizete Dureault, and Susan J. Falk.

Submissions are accepted online through the festival website: .

This past summer, festival-goers came together against the picturesque backdrop of Fort 91原创, that included about 10,000 visitors, 23 bands, 141 musicians, and more than 100 volunteers. Next year's Jazz & Arts Festival runs July 24 to 27.

Kids make holiday cards

In the meantime, four youngsters were recognized recently by the festival society for their artistic abilities.

The young artists of varying ages were selected as winners of a contest that saw their art featured on the festival's holiday cards.

The theme was "Celebrate the Joy of Music and Magic of the Season," and Zukas said it inspired a lot of creativity from all the participants.

"This was our first holiday art contest and we were thrilled to receive over 100 incredible entries from across British Columbia," Zukas said. "Every single one was a joy to review鈥� All the entries captured the festive spirit of music, art and the holidays in the most magical way."

There were two winners from Whistler, five-year-old Finnley and eight-year-old Elodie. A 10-year-old girl named Chloe, from Surrey, also won, along with 11-year-old Pihu of 91原创.

The children won a $50 gift card of their choice, 10 printed copies of their winning holiday card design, and their artwork was also featured in an e-card that went out to festival supporters, sponsors, and partners.