Annually, the Tom Tom Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brings people together to celebrate the creativity and entrepreneurship of Charlottesville, Virginia, encourages talented artists and designers to submit their designs to transform a 35′ clean diesel public transit CAT bus and JAUNT bus into moving murals. The City Art Bus Competition draws whimsical and energetic design contributions from dozens of local, national and international artists, and, perhaps most excitingly, the general public can cast a vote to help decide each year’s City Art Bus!

The public may cast three votes, and each are weighted. The first choice is worth five (5) points, the second choice is three (3) points, and the third vote is one (1) point. People can’t vote for a bus multiple times, and each vote has to be for a different bus. The winning designs will be selected by combining the results of the crowd favorite votes, a CAT bus driver vote, a JAUNT bus driver vote, and a juried panel. Voting closes March 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

Click here to view the 2021 finalists, and check out the 2020 winner below:

2020 CAT Bus Winner

Bridget Olsen (pictured left) is a Charlottesville native currently studying creative technologies at Virginia Tech. Her “main influences include dreams, music, sea life, and vivid colors,” which make regular appearances in her work. As an artist with a learning disability, she hopes her win will inspire other young artists to see their disabilities as a strength.

2020 JAUNT Bus Winner

Julia Bailey is currently a junior at Charlottesville High School, where she is enrolled in a digital art class. Her design was inspired by her love of animals including her family’s three cats. She has been fostering with the CASPCA since the age of 10 and aspires to one day become a crazy cat lady. She thanks her art teacher, Ms. Van Yahres, for her encouragement and guidance.

Image Credit(s): Tom Tom Foundation