South Bend: The Next 100 Years Poster Contest

WHY THIS CONTEST NOW?

For 100 years, the image on this poster has been a source of inspiration and civic pride to those who call this great city home. It was first presented as the cover of South Bend, World Famed, a 1922 survey booklet prepared in advance of the centenary of the city’s founding. The booklet told the story of the city’s founder, Alexis Coquillard, settling the area and opening his fur trading post in 1823, illustrating all the progress made over the ensuing one hundred years. The booklet maps what South Bend had become during its first century, including descriptions and histories of local businesses, business leaders, educational institutions, elected officials, and governmental agencies in celebration of the City. Its cover image captured a sense of pride about how far South Bend had come, and optimism over where it hoped to grow. Now in 2023, on the city’s 200th anniversary, The History Museum and the Studebaker National Museum are holding a competition for the creation of a new poster — a new image that will encapsulate the DNA of South Bend and its potential to continue to be world famed!

SOUTH BEND: THE NEXT 100 YEARS POSTER CONTEST

The Studebaker National Museum and The History Museum are excited to announce a poster design contest celebrating the next 100 years of South Bend, Indiana! $28,500 in cash awards: $10,000 First Prize; $5,000 Second Prize; $3,500 Third Prize; and $1,000 to each of ten finalists. The winning poster will be forward looking, aspirational and inspirational for those who call this great city home.

SOUTH BEND’S DNA:

Artists are encouraged to draw upon their own experience and perspective of South Bend as inspiration for their poster design. Artists are also welcome to review the following document listing some of the strengths and defining virtues that make South Bend unique and vital. These aspects do not need to be part of your design but are worth considering — especially for any artist not directly familiar with the city.

ENTRY DEADLINE:

Sunday, June 25, 2023, 11:59 p.m. EST

ELIGIBILITY:

Open to any artist of any age.
Format of the poster should be 36 (height) x 24 (wide) inches.
Posters can be created via any medium, but submissions must be digital.

TO APPLY, YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING:

Your poster design in PDF or JPG format.
A short-written statement about your poster design (200 words or less) describing your thought process; why you used certain colors, typefaces, or images; and/or anything else you would like the jurors to know. If selected as a finalist, your statement will be included in the exhibition at The History Museum along with a print of your poster design. You will have a chance to edit it if you wish.
There is no fee to apply.

JURYING and COMPETITION PROCESS:

Artist submission review and selection will be done by a diverse group of representatives from The History Museum, Studebaker National Museum and local arts professionals.
Based on the initial submission, the jury will select 10 finalists.
Brief feedback will be supplied to the finalists who will then have time to make adjustments and/or refine their proposed poster designs before the jury selects the First, Second and Third Prize winners.
The designs by the 10 finalists will be included in an exhibition at The History Museum.
The First Prize design will be printed and used for a variety of purposes by The History Museum and Studebaker National Museum.

CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE:

All who submit their work for consideration to this contest affirm that all submitted images are original artworks created by yourself or is artwork created by a designer/illustrator/photographer/artist who authorized you in writing to submit images on their behalf. Images submitted do not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyright, or other intellectual property rights of any person or entity.
Each of the 10 selected finalists will receive a $1,000 stipend.
Prints of the 10 finalists’ designs will be included in an exhibition at The History Museum, along with their statements.
The finalists will receive brief feedback from the committee and a chance to make any further refinements or edits before the committee selects the three awardees (First, Second and Third Prizes).
The creator of the winning First Prize poster will release final, finished artwork files to representatives of The History Museum and Studebaker National Museum for the
printing of posters.
The creator of the winning First Prize poster grants to The History Museum and Studebaker National Museum an irrevocable, royalty-free license to reproduce, publish, display, distribute and sell prints of the finished poster, including on or through their websites and social media platforms, and any other use related to both museums. The creator also gives The History Museum and Studebaker National Museum permission to use their name and likeness in connection with the use of their poster as described.
Proceeds from the sale of prints will be used to further the missions of both museums.
The creator of the winning First Prize poster is allowed to use the final image for self promotional purposes (on their website, portfolio, social media, etc.) but is not allowed to create copies for the purposes of selling prints.
The creator of the winning First Prize poster will receive no fewer than 10 printed copies of their design following the initial print run of the poster.

CONTEST TIMELINE

June 25, 11:59 p.m. EST: Deadline for entry
June 26–July 14: Jurying of entries
July 17: Announcement of the 10 selected finalists on studebakermuseum.org/south-bend-next-100-years/, and social media. Finalists will also receive emailed notification along with brief feedback from the jurors, giving them time to edit or refine their designs before the final jurying takes place for the First, Second and Third Place Awards.
July 24: Exhibition opens at The History Museum.
August 4: Deadline for any edited designs.
August 8–18: Jurying of the final 10 designs
August 21: Notification of artists of First, Second and Third Place Awards.
August 28: Release of final, press ready artwork files to representatives of The History Museum and Studebaker National Museum for the printing of posters.
October TBD: Reception for the artists. Initial date that the First Prize poster is open to the public for purchase.

FAQS

My poster design file is larger than 10MB? What do I do?
- Upload a version of your poster that is 10MB or less. If selected as a finalist, we can work with you on getting a larger file to us for the exhibition.
I don't live in South Bend. Can I still enter?
- Absolutely! The contest is open to artists and designers of all ages, and there are no geographic boundaries.