Deadline extension - 14 Mar, 2014
Why does culture matter? What role does culture play in our lives, as individuals, and as members of a community? Some of our most profound, invigorating, and provocative moments are experienced while we live art or take part in a cultural event. And yet, it is no easy task to name why culture is important and why we need to give it our full support. There are some who believe that arts and culture address the burning and relevant issues of the day while others hold arts and culture as a space apart, not to be limited by temporal reality and the pressures of current events. Some value culture as an important part of economic development while others say it is a stand-alone unquantifiable human activity. Some highlight art as a reflection of community while others insist that art is an individual expression of universal value, not to be categorized by collective or tribal labels. The intriguing pull of arts and culture is an open discussion … Why is culture important to you?
In 2013, AFAC launched a ‘Why Culture’ campaign inviting the general public to engage with these questions through creative competitions. The first was the AFAC "Why Culture?" Poster Design Competition in the first half of the year, followed by the AFAC “Why Culture?” Video Competition in the latter half of the year. We presented the competitions to student bodies in universities across the region, while keeping the competition open to professionals and amateurs alike.
In the next phase of the campaign, and in response to feedback from our friends, grantees and the general public, AFAC invites you to submit a one-page comic strip or caricature that responds to the question: Why Culture?
How can you participate?
- The competition is open to the wider public as well as to amateur and professional comic artists, illustrators and graphic designers.
- You are required to submit a JPG image 72 dpi, longest edge 5,000 pixels, that features an original comic strip design or a caricature responding to the question ‘Why Culture?.’
- Entries that include dialogue can be submitted in Arabic, French or English, in slang, colloquial or standard language.
- Entries will be accepted until March 31st, 2014.
- Send your submission through an email including your full name and nationality to: whyculture@arabculturefund.org
- Two of the submissions will receive awards: AFAC’s Why Culture Voter’s Selection and AFAC’s Why Culture Jury’s Selection.
What happens after that?
- The most original and resonating submissions will be short-listed by AFAC and shared online for public voting on April 2nd, when the AFAC Why Culture Comic Competition goes live on AFAC’s Facebook page.
- Voting will be held over a period of one week, closing on the end of the day April 9th.
- On March 10th, the submission with the most Facebook likes will be declared the winner of AFAC’s Why Culture Voter’s Selection competition. An in-house evaluation by AFAC will declare the winner of AFAC’s Why Culture Selection competition. The two winners will receive an award of $1,000 each.
- The short-listed submissions and winning submissions will be displayed in AFAC communications materials and/or published in a wide media campaign, giving recognition to the designers and emphasizing the value of arts and culture in society.
Important notice: By submitting your entry to this competition, you agree to allow AFAC to use the work – in part or in full - as part of its communications, fundraising and cultural advocacy work. This may include, and is not limited to, usage in events and online, all of which will include acknowledgments of the artist.
