Deadline: 1-Nov-22
The International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) Committee is inviting applications for a poster contest to pick a new design for the annual poster.
There is a new theme for ICAW, which is highlighted on the poster as well as the dates for ICAW, which will be May 7 – 13, 2023. The contest is open to anyone in the world age 14 or older.
Themes
The 2023 International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) theme is truly a collaborative and international effort.
This year, the foundation teamed up with the International Compost Alliance (ICA) to select:
- For Healthier Soil,
- Healthy Food…Compost!
The theme was chosen based on a serious world-wide issue that every nation, unfortunately, experiences: hunger.
One of the initiatives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. As part of the ICAW committee’s global discussion with their international partners around the world, they spoke the same language, and all wanted to promote a unified theme – aligning a topic important to each country while emphasizing their work with compost.
The chosen 2023 theme best reflects the goal of focusing on how compost can have a role in helping feed the world, by making soil healthier which produces healthier food. How does compost help? By recycling organics into compost and using it on the farmlands they create healthy soils that produce healthier food and higher yields. It also reduces the need for fertilizer and pesticides, improves water quality and conserves water, as well as stores carbon in soil – helping to reduce climate change. Compost not only helps the environment but also helps to decrease food shortages experienced around the world. For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food…Compost!
Prize
- The overall winner will receive a $500 prize.
Guidelines
- Only one entry per person
- Size is 12” wide X 18” vertical (this is in inches)
- Resolution is 300 dpi in jpg format
- Poster contains the theme, For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food…Compost!
- Poster contains the words International Compost Awareness Week
- Poster contains May 7 – 13, 2023
- Do not add additional words to your poster. Only the theme and International Compost Awareness Week and May 7 – 13, 2023 are allowed. Any changes to those words or additions will automatically eliminate your entry.
- If you have a photograph as part of your poster, please confirm that either you took the photo or you have obtained legal rights to use the photo.
Criteria
If design entries do not follow these requirement exactly, the design will be eliminated and not entered into the contest:
- Fee: Free!
- Entries per person: Entries are limited to ONE SUBMISSION PER ARTIST.
- Submitting your entry: You must complete the online entry form application and checklist, and submit your poster online. Please include a short paragraph on why you chose to participate in the ICAW 2023 poster contest and give an explanation of your poster concept.
- The theme does not have to be below those two lines. You can use your creativity but please make sure everything can be easily read from a distance. Do not add additional words or numbers to your poster. Failure to follow these instructions will disqualify your poster
- The concept and images of the poster should be based on the benefits of compost and composting food and yard waste. Compost is the focus of the contest. The judges will especially look for images that demonstrate that organic materials are a key component to healthy soils and for keeping soils and the environment healthy in the future. When creating your poster, please remember that the winning poster will be reproduced and distributed nationally. The Compost Research & Education Foundation’s logo, along with sponsor logos, will be added to the poster below the winning image. Do not add any logos to your design.
- Only ORIGINAL artwork will be considered. Please check your spelling; Any misspelled words or incorrect numbers will disqualify your poster!
- Posters that include personal or corporate information or product endorsements will be disqualified.
- Copyrighted Images/Subjects: Copyrighted, trademarked products, packaging, brand names and advertisements may not be used within the poster. Original signed release forms are required for persons, whether public or private citizens, who are photographed and appear on the poster. Release forms can be as simple as a paragraph stating “permission” from “subjects” with a printed list of names of the individuals appearing and signed by the individuals. If the subject is under 18 the release form must be signed by a parent or guardian. This rule will be strictly enforced.
- Electronic Resolution and Format: Artwork is to be submitted in electronic format with a resolution of 300 dpi and in jpg format. (Note: Poster Winner will be requested to resubmit poster at higher resolution for reproduction purposes.) Poster should measure 12” wide X 18” high and be vertical (portrait) in orientation.
- Judging and winner selection: All entries will be reviewed by the judges to get down to the top 15 between the two categories. A final vote will be made by CREF donors and volunteers and USCC members to pick the winning design.
- Grades 9 to 12
- College students and adults
- The competition will be judged on the following criteria (40 points maximum):
- Marketability of poster to multiple audiences – 10 points.
- Creative and original artwork and idea – 10 points.
- Attractiveness in terms of design and neatness of layout – 10 points.
- Overall Impact, all graphics are related to the topic and make it easier to understand the poster theme – 10 points.
- Final poster: The Compost Research & Education Foundation’s ICAW Committee reserves the right to alter the final poster design or to reject all submissions for the final poster design. All submissions become the property of the Compost Research & Education Foundation and may be used for commercial purposes. No entries will be returned.
For more information, visit https://www.compostfoundation.org/ICAW/ICAW-Poster-Contest
