Student artists asked to design the next Highland Jazz and Blues Festival poster

The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival is still seeking student artists (grades 11 and 12 in Caddo and Bossier parishes) to submit designs in a contest for the 20th Annual Highland Jazz and Blues Festival poster with a cash prize of $500 for the chosen artwork.

Theme – Jazz & Blues Music Festival: Be creative so judges can see an artist’s take on the festival celebrating the 20th anniversary.

Eligibility: Student artists must reside in Caddo or Bossier parishes and can be either a junior or senior in high school.

Entries: Only original artwork created specifically for the 20th Annual Highland Jazz and Blues Festival poster contest will be considered. Multiple entries may submit.

Artwork must be in an 11 x 17 inch, vertical format, having a 1:1.5 ratio. Original artwork may be larger than 11×17, for example, 18 x 24 or 22 x 34 but must maintain a 1: 1.5 ratio for printing purposes. The printed poster size will be 11 x 17. Original Artwork should not be smaller than 11 x 17. Artwork may be completed in any media, including digital and computer graphics.

The words “20th Annual Highland Jazz and Blues Festival” should appear somewhere in the artwork, but do not have to be the focal point.

A bluebird should also appear somewhere on the poster. The bluebird is the mascot for the festival and is named Jazzy.

Lastly, artwork include the date and location: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, Columbia Park, Shreveport, La.

Use of 3-D media such as collage or low-relief sculpture is acceptable, but should photograph well and enhance the overall quality of the poster.

Copyrighted, trademarked products, packaging, brand names and advertisements may not be used within the poster. The winning entry becomes property of the Highland Area Partnership and Highland Jazz and Blues Festival and the artist agrees to allow for the sale and reproduction of the original artwork.

Entries are due 10 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Submitting your entry: Artists must fill out this Google Form and upload their artwork here: https://forms.gle/BVx32epeasnZgWBb9

Artwork is to be submitted in digital formats (JPG, PNG, or PDF formats including vector).

Name the file: YOUR NAME for ease of cataloging the entries. If there are more than one entry per artist add a number to each additional submission. Example; YOURNAME, YOURNAME2, YOURNAME3, etc.

Judging and winner selection: The entries will be judged on the following criteria: Visual appeal – overall impact; artistic Interpretation of the theme; marketability; features the words “20th Annual Highland Jazz and Blues Festival”; and features a bluebird.

The Highland Area Partnership and Highland Jazz and Blues Festival poster selection committee reserves the right to alter the final poster design (add sponsor logos, dates and other information that may be necessary for printing and sale of the winning design) in collaboration with the submission artist. The committee will strive to ensure that the overall artistic integrity of the winning piece is maintained.

Winner will be notified by May 15, 2024 and official artwork will be revealed to the public at the Official Highland Jazz and Blues Announcement Party in late June. Winner will receive: $500, two VIP passes to the festival, poster and festival swag.

The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival launched in 2003. The Festival has grown from a handful of bands and a crowd of 500-1,000 to a gathering including two stages, nine bands, posters, T-shirts, food and art sales, and 10,000 music fans in Highland area’s beautiful Columbia Park.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Highland Jazz and Blues Festival seeks student artists for poster contest