THE SHOALS-You are invited to submit your art to compete for the W.C. Handy Music Festival 2021 design. The winning design will represent the W.C. Handy Music Festival on T-Shirts, posters, and other memorabilia, and in several advertising formats.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The W.C. Handy Music Festival is presented annually by the Music Preservation Society, Inc. (MPS). The Festival honors Florence, Alabama, native William Christopher Handy, recognized internationally as “Father of the Blues”. The Handy Festival is a ten day, multiple event celebration occurring throughout Northwest Alabama which attracts attendees from around the U.S. and abroad. Events featuring music are held in parks, restaurants, retail stores, churches, theatres, libraries, and many other venues, along with concerts, dramatic plays, athletic events, car shows, art displays, and more. Festival music ranging from spirituals, to jazz and blues, and the “Muscle Shoals Sound” is performed live both indoors and outdoors. The Handy Festival is one of the top music festivals in the Southeast, and has been selected several times as a Top Ten Event in Alabama; a three time Cultural Olympiad Designee by Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games; a Location/Destination on the National Geographic Appalachian Regional Commission’s Featured Sites Map; and a Top Twenty event in the Southeast by Southeast Tourism Society. For more information about the Handy Festival, visit www.WCHandyMusicFestival.org.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY

All entries must be of original creation, must be copyright free, and may not contain clip art in whole or in part or any other imagery designed by anyone other than Entrant(s). All entries must meet technical requirements (see below) and must be accompanied by a digital version of the design. The previous year’s winner is ineligible to enter the current year’s competition.  Designs should include the W.C. Handy Music Festival name, dates (including year), and primary location.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES

Posters, accompanied by camera-ready art must be received by June 5, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. CST.  (Details on reverse side.)

NOTIFICATION OF WINNING ENTRY

The winner of the Design Competition will be notified by June 15, 2021.

PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION

Entries will be judged on merit, suitability as a visual image, originality, and how well the design reflects the spirit of the Festival. The final decision will be made by the MPS Board of Directors.

PRIZE FOR WINNING ENTRY

Art becomes the property of MPS upon payment of $500 to the winner, no later than June 15, 2021.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS

MPS reserves the right to photograph and/or exhibit all entries, and to reproduce works accepted in the competition for publicity purposes. The designer of the winning entry releases all rights of ownership to MPS, and the winning design will become the property of MPS to be used in various forms for purposes relating the W.C. Handy Music Festival.

SPECIFICATIONS OF FINISHED ART

FORMAT

Finished size of the art must be 18” x 24” (maximum image area) in portrait (vertical) orientation on poster board. PMS color swatches may be included.

COLOR

The poster may be printed using up to 4 standard PMS colors. Printing process will be on a four-color printing press. Submit only 100% specific PMS colors with no screen tints or mixing in vector format. Electronic art must be furnished in CMYK format.

DESIGN FEATURES

Required to be included in the design:

• Festival Name: C. Handy Music Festival
• Dates: July 17-68, 2020
• Place: The Shoals, Alabama Sponsor: The Music Preservation Society, Inc. Optional features: Florence, Alabama

PREPARATION OF ENTRIES

In addition to the mounted rendering of your submission, a digital format is required, preferably on CD, as a high resolution (300 DPI @ 100%) JPEG, vector (Adobe Illustrator) for screen printing or PSD layered files, as a Photoshop (TIFF) file, and as a high resolution PDF. Please provide 300 DPI at finished size or larger which can be separated to CYMK for commercial printing

Freehand comprehensive design may be submitted in the following media: opaque water based colors, inks, or markers. Freehand designs must be scanned and submitted on CD as well as mounted on poster board.

Each entry must have an identification label placed in the upper left corner of the back with the name, return address, and phone number of the artist, and with the signed artist’s agreement.

A $10.00 entry fee must accompany each entry.

If non-winning is to be returned by mail, a payment of $10.00 for Shipping and Handling must accompany each entry!

CAMERA-READY ART REQUIRED

The winning artist will be responsible for all technical aspects or production, which includes furnishing a digital copy of the design suitable for printing. (See

Format under Specifications of Finished Art.)

CARE OF ENTRIES

Every precaution will be taken in handling entries, but the Music Preservation Society, Inc. assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to artwork.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Call Music Preservation Society, Inc. 256-766-7642 or the Festival Chair at 256-394-8674.

DELIVERY AND PICKUP

Hand-deliver or ship prepaid entries to:

Music Preservation Society, Inc.

409 North Court Street – Suite 11

Florence, AL 35630

Hand-delivered or shipped entries will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. June 5, 2021. Call 256-766-7642 for an appointment.  Non-winning entries will be returned, if requested, after August 15, 2020 and may be mailed or picked up by appointment.  If no request is made for return of non-winning entries by September 30, 2021, they will become the property of Music Preservation Society, Inc. Entries to be mailed back to artist must include the prepaid $10.00 shipping and handling fee made payable to:

Music Preservation Society, Inc.

1. O. Box 1827

Florence, AL 35631

Media Release/Tori Bailey/W.C. Handy Music Festival