Submissions for new Toledo flag now due Aug. 28

For the third time in the city of Toledo’s history, a new flag will be adopted.

The city, founded Jan. 7, 1837, and nearing its 188th birthday, got its first flag in 1909. The flag was then redesigned in 1993.

In recent years, local resident Jacob Parr designed a flag that he submitted to city council, but it was not adopted.

The city has joined with the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo to jury a flag design contest that invites Toledoans to submit their best design ideas.

The city said the new design should embrace the principles of good flag design, including keeping it simple, using meaningful symbolism, using only two or three basic colors, featuring no lettering or seals, and being distinctive.

Nathan Mattimoe, director of art in public places for the Arts Commission, said the number of submissions is low.

“We have received just under 20 submissions so far,” Mr. Mattimoe said in a statement. “Typically the submissions increase as we get closer to the deadline.”

The deadline for submissions has been changed from July 15 to Aug. 28, Mr. Mattimoe said, adding that the city jumped the gun with the July date.

A design review board composed of community members and design experts will narrow down the submissions and announce the semifinalists in September.

The board includes Chairman Dan Hernandez, Arts Commission board president, artist, and professor of art at the University of Toledo; Carrie Hartman, Toledo City Council president; Tedd Long, a Toledo historian; Terwase Ngur, Toledo Lucas County Public Library downtown manager; Laura Koprowski CEO of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority; Valerie White of the University of Toledo; Tiffany Whitman, director of the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the city; and Kelli Fischer of the Toledo Museum of Art.

Ms. Hartman said she is looking for a flag that represents Toledo and its rich cultural history.

“It’s clear that our city is in a period of growth, and I want this flag to represent our collective progress as we try to make Toledo the best in the Midwest,” Ms. Hartman said. “I’m sure this will be a very competitive process because we are fortunate to have so many talented artists and designers in our area. I look forward to reviewing all the submissions for not only the artistic design, but also its symbolism and the story it tells.”

The board will review public feedback and recommend a final design. Officials hope to launch the new flag on Jan. 7.

For more information, visit toledo.oh.gov/flag .