Calling All FCPS Student Artists and Designers: Observance Design Challenge

FCPS is looking for student-designed graphics or artwork to represent the observances that are recognized on the FCPS school year calendar for 2023-24 (PDF). 

The Observance Design Challenge will encourage students to tap into their creativity to create visuals that accurately and positively represent the many religious observances celebrated in the FCPS community. Students may also choose to submit a design for Thanksgiving.

Eligibility Requirements

• The contest is open to any FCPS student enrolled in a middle school, secondary school, or high school in May-June 2023. FCPS students in alternative schools aged 12 and older may also submit a design. 
• Students have the option of submitting artwork/designs independently, or as part of a group.
• Each student may submit a design for as many observances as they like, however they may only submit one design per observance.
• Each student may have their artwork selected for only one observance.

Design Guidelines

• Submissions should visually represent the religious component of the observance that they select to create visuals for (with the exception of Thanksgiving). 
• Artwork/designs should show multiple aspects of the observance, to be inclusive of the various ways the observance may be celebrated. 
• Submissions must be the students’ original work. Designs/artwork must not be copied from others, use copyrighted material, include the designs or photographs from another person without their permission, or violate the intellectual property rights of any other person or entity.

Students must select one of the following observances acknowledged on the FCPS 2023-24 school year calendar (PDF).

• Thanksgiving
• Rosh Hashanah
• Yom Kippur
• All Saints Day / Día de los Muertos
• Diwali
• Chanukah
• Bodhi Day
• Christmas
• Three Kings Day/Epiphany
• Orthodox Christmas
• Orthodox Epiphany
• Lunar New Year
• Ash Wednesday
• Ramadan
• Good Friday
• Easter
• Eid al-Fitr
• Passover
• Theravada New Year
• Orthodox Good Friday
• Orthodox Easter
• Eid al-Adha

Submission Requirements

• The submission form closes on June 11, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Late submissions will not be accepted. 
• All artwork must be submitted digitally through the submission form.
• All artwork must fit the following size:
  • Digital artwork: 1,650 pixels wide x 1,275 pixels tall (or equivalent ratio)
  • Non-digital artwork: 11 inches wide x 8.5 inches tall
• All designs must be submitted in JPEG or PNG format. 
• If the artwork was done in a non-digital medium, take a clear, well-lit digital photo or scan it using a color scanner and save it as a .jpeg or .png.
• All submissions must be original work of the entrant(s).
• Submissions must be accompanied by a permission slip signed by the student and the student’s parent or guardian giving us permission to use the student's work.
• If the artwork was done by a team, each student on the team must submit their own permission slip through the submission form.

How to Submit an Entry

Students must sign in to their FCPS Google account and complete the Google form to submit their entry electronically, along with a completed permission slip signed by the student and the student's parent or guardian.

Permission Slips

Selection of Designs

• Designs will be reviewed by a panel of judges. 
• Selection criteria will include alignment with the Design Guidelines above, creativity, and quality of craft.
• Selected entrants will be notified via email and credited on FCPS social media channels and other FCPS publications. 
• FCPS is not responsible for any misplaced, incomplete, ineligible, or unsuitable entries. 
• FCPS is not liable for notifying entrants in the event that the entrant's contact information is inaccurate, outdated, or otherwise invalid. 
• Any original design selected may be modified, edited, adapted, or used by FCPS. Every effort will be made to maintain the spirit of the original work.
• FCPS makes no guarantee on the number of designs selected, or that any will be selected.

Questions

Flyers