Onward & Upward Artist Showcase Contest
The Onward & Upward Artist Showcase is sponsored by Ashro, partnering with the Ashro Community Council and Pigment International™. Art has always been a key piece in the rich storytelling of the Black experience. We’re seeking artists to share their story through work that incorporates this year’s theme: “Preserving Black Elegance & Excellence”. Show us your best work!
OFFICIAL RULES
● NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN A PRIZE IN THIS CONTEST. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
● CONTEST OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES (INCLUDES DC) WHO ARE SIXTEEN (16) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AS OF THE DATE OF ENTRY.
● THIS IS A SKILL-BASED CONTEST; THIS IS NOT A GAME OF CHANCE. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN BASED ON STATED CRITERIA.
● AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY / RELEASE OF LIABILITY / PRIZE ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT MAY BE REQUIRED.
● SPONSOR OBTAINS CERTAIN RIGHTS FROM ENTRANTS TO USE CONTENT SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE CONTEST.
BY ENTERING (OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATING) IN THE CONTEST, YOU AGREE TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES, WHICH CREATE A CONTRACT, SO READ THEM CAREFULLY BEFORE ENTERING. WITHOUT LIMITATION, SUCH CONTRACT INCLUDES GRANTS OF RIGHTS AND INDEMNITIES TO SPONSOR FROM YOU, A CLASS ACTION WAIVER, AND A LIMITATION OF YOUR RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.
SPONSOR: Ashro, Inc., 1112 7th Avenue, Monroe, WI 53566-1364.
ELIGIBILITY: The Onward & Upward Artist Showcase Contest (the “Contest”) is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (includes DC) who are sixteen (16) years of age or older as of the date of entry. Entrants who are less than eighteen (18) years of age must obtain parental consent before entering. Employees of Sponsor, Pigment International™, the Ashro Community Council, and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies, sales representatives, agencies, dealers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and promotional and vendor agencies involved in the Contest, and the immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) or household members of all such employees, are NOT eligible. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted by law or regulations. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these terms and conditions and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest.
ENTRY: All entries must be submitted between 7:00 P.M. Central Time (CT) on May 16, 2024, and 11:59 P.M. CT on October 31, 2024. To enter, please visit ashro.com/contest, and complete the steps of the online entry process, including uploading a photo of your art submission, as well as providing a short description not exceeding 500 characters (approximately 70-130 words) of what inspired you to create your submission. You will also be required to provide your full legal name, email address, phone number, age, and home address. Limit one (1) entry per person. See below for additional entry criteria.
Entry Criteria: To participate in this Contest, you must create an original piece of visual art that embodies the following theme: “Preserving Black Elegance & Excellence”. Submissions may be in the form of paintings, illustrations, sculptures, digital creations, drawings, and poetry. Photos of submissions uploaded as part of the entry process must be jpg, png, or pdf (max. file size: 50 MB). With your submission, you will be required to submit a short description of what inspired you to create your submission. Such descriptions must be written in English and may not exceed 500 characters (approximately 70-130 words).
Entry must be the entrant’s original creation and may not include copyrighted, trademarked, patented, or previously published material. Entry requiring license or usage rights from any third party is not eligible. Entry may not include any trademarked or copyrighted brand names/logos, except those of Sponsor. Entry cannot defame or invade the rights or privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any third party’s personal, proprietary, or intellectual rights. Entry cannot contain illegal or unlawful material, and must not promote bigotry, racism, harm, violence, or discrimination. Entry must be consistent with Sponsor’s reputation in the marketplace and must be suitable for audiences of all ages. Entries which, in Sponsor’s or judges’ sole discretion, contain any type of vulgarity or objectionable content will be disqualified. Entries that do not meet these stated criteria, or entries that (in Sponsor’s or judges’ sole discretion) may technically meet the stated criteria but do not reflect the intent and the spirit of the Contest, are not eligible.
Entry constitutes the entrant’s certification that s/he is the owner of the entry and is able and authorized to submit it. By submitting an entry, entrant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor, Pigment International™, the Ashro Community Council, and their parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, sales representatives, agencies, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and promotional and other vendor agencies involved in this Contest (hereinafter, the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorney fees) and liabilities (including settlements), resulting from or relating to entrant’s submission, or any information supplied or represented to Sponsor by entrant.
SELECTION OF PRIZE WINNERS: Entries will be judged by a panel of judges selected by Sponsor, which may include local art teachers/professors, members of the Ashro Community Council, and marketing/advertising professionals from Pigment International™ and Sponsor. Entries will be judged on a 100-point scale by the panel based on the following six (6) criteria:
● (i) adherence to theme of “Preserving Black Elegance & Excellence”;
● (ii) technique/craftsmanship/overall composition of art submission;
● (iii) inspirational power/recall ability/marketability;
● (iv) creativity/originality of art submission
● (v) ability to convey artist’s written inspiration through art submission
● (vi) quality of submission (e.g., staging, lighting, contrast)
The six judging criteria will be weighted as follows for the two awards:
Impact Award
● (i) adherence to theme of “Preserving Black Elegance & Excellence” (20%);
● (ii) technique/craftsmanship/overall composition of art submission (15%);
● (iii) inspirational power/recall ability/marketability (30%);
● (iv) creativity/originality of art submission (10%);
● (v) ability to convey artist’s written inspiration through art submission (15%); and
● (vi) quality of submission (e.g., staging, lighting, contrast) (10%).
Young Adult Scholarship Award (Ages 16-21 only)
● (i) adherence to theme of “Preserving Black Elegance & Excellence” (25%);
● (ii) technique/craftsmanship/overall composition of art submission (15%);
● (iii) inspirational power/recall ability/marketability (20%);
● (iv) creativity/originality of art submission (15%);
● (v) ability to convey artist’s written inspiration through art submission (20%); and
● (vi) quality of submission (e.g., staging, lighting, contrast) (5%).
All decisions by the judges are final and binding on all entries. Judges will score each entry based on the criteria noted above. In the event of a tie, the tied entry that received the higher score in the “technique/craftsmanship/overall composition of art submission” category will be deemed the potential winner. If a tie still exists, then the “originality of art submission” category will be used as the tie-breaker.
Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received and the quality of the entries received.
Potential winners will be notified on or about November 15, 2024, by phone, email, or regular mail, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, using the information provided on the Entry form. The potential winners will be required to respond within four (4) business days of notification, or the prize will be forfeited, and an alternate winner will be chosen. Affidavit of eligibility (including Social Security Number), prize acceptance form, tax information, publicity release, and/or mutually acceptable liability releases may be required and, if so, must be returned within the reasonable specified time or prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner chosen.
The winner of the Contest will be revealed in a Pigment International™ newsletter and on Ashro’s blog.
PRIZES & APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUES (ARV): Two (2) winners will be selected in total; specifically, one winner will be selected for the Impact Award (all entrants eligible), and one winner will be selected for the Young Adult Scholarship Award (limited to entrants 16 to 21 years of age at the time of submission). The winner of each respective award will receive the following prize:
Impact Award:
Winner will receive a 3-day/2-night trip to Chicago, Illinois for winner and one (1) guest. Trip includes a round-trip, coach-class airline tickets for winner and a guest from major domestic airport nearest winner’s & guest’s home to Chicago, Illinois; travel accommodations to and from the airport to Chicago, Illinois; hotel accommodations (single room, double-occupancy) for two nights for winner and guest (excludes incidentals and room service); all meals while in Chicago (up to $150 a day meal allowance for each winner and guest); travel allowance of $150 per day; a meet-and-greet with Ashro’s Art Director; passes to a Pigment International event; and interview with Ashro and Pigment International™ representatives. ARV: $3,150.00. Winner will also receive a Pigment International™ magazine subscription; ARV: $30.00.
Young Adult Scholarship Award: $1,000 Scholarship; Pigment International™ magazine subscription, ARV: $30.00.
Total ARV of all prizes to be awarded: $4,210.
Additional Prize Information (Impact Award): If winner lives within a 150-mile radius of Chicago, Illinois, ground transportation may be provided in lieu of air transportation at the sole discretion of the Sponsor, and no compensation or substitution will be provided for difference in prize value. Sponsor will make the sole determination whether winner’s residence is greater than 150 miles away from hotel location, using its own methods and tools (e.g., maps, GPS, mileage calculator). Winner and guest must travel together on the same itinerary. Guest must be at least 21 years of age or older. In the event that the winner is a minor (i.e., less than 18 years of age), then guest of minor must be a parent, legal guardian, or an adult 21+ years of age who has obtained prior written approval from Sponsor and minor’s parent or legal guardian. Winner and guest must possess any necessary valid travel documents (e.g., valid government-issued photo ID) and be available to travel between April 10, 2025 and April 30, 2025, or prize will be forfeited (at Sponsor’s final discretion). Air travel will be from a major domestic airport near winner’s place of residence as determined by Sponsor. Sponsor will determine airport, airline, flight itineraries, and hotel accommodations in its sole discretion. No refund or compensation will be made in the event of the cancellation or delay of the flight. No refunds or credit for changes are allowed. All other expenses and costs not expressly listed above are the winner’s sole responsibility. Travel restrictions may apply. The actual value of the Impact Award Prize is expected to vary based on the point of origination, airfare fluctuations, and hotel pricing. If the actual value of the travel portion is less than stated, the difference will not be awarded in cash, and no such claim will be honored.
Trip must be taken, and winner and guest must be able to travel, on dates specified by Sponsor, which is projected to be between April 10, 2025 and April 30, 2025. Trip must be accepted by winner “as is” and must be taken at time and flight itinerary specified by Sponsor or prize will be forfeited in its entirety. Upon forfeiture no compensation will be given. Once the trip is confirmed, any changes made to hotel accommodations or air travel will be at the expense of the winner. Sponsor will not replace any lost, mutilated, or stolen tickets, travel vouchers or certificates. The winner is responsible for providing travel insurance (and all other forms of insurance) that they may wish to obtain (at their own expense) and hereby acknowledges that the Sponsor has not and will not obtain or provide travel insurance or any other form of insurance. Travel is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in these Official Rules and those set forth by the sponsor’s airline carrier of choice as detailed in the passenger ticket contract. If requested by Sponsor, winner and guest may be required to sign and return a Travel Release form prior to issuance of travel documents.
Additional Prize Information (Young Adult Scholarship Award): The $1,000 scholarship provided to the winner of the Young Adult Scholarship Award will be awarded in the form of a corporate check for $1,000 made out to both the student and the educational institution the winner is planning to attend. Sponsor will hold the check until the winner provides enrollment verification. Sponsor will hold prize winnings up to three (3) years from winner announcement to allow for winner to graduate and make post-secondary plans. If plans are not made to attend college, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, deem the entire scholarship forfeited, in which case, no consideration will be paid to the winner.
Additional Prize Information (Impact and Young Adult Scholarship Awards): All taxes, fees, and surcharges on prizes are the sole responsibility of the winners. For prizes in excess of $600, the winners will be issued an IRS Form 1099 for the fair market value of the prize inclusive of sales or other transaction taxes. In the event that a minor (under eighteen (18) years of age) is a winner, the prize may be awarded to the minor’s parent or guardian on behalf of the minor. Affidavit of eligibility (including SSN), prize acceptance form, tax information, personal services agreement, publicity release, travel release, and/or mutually acceptable liability releases may be required where not prohibited. Any and all guarantees and warranties for merchandise prizes are subject to the manufacturer’s and/or service providers terms and conditions, and the winner agrees to look solely to such manufacturers and/or service providers for any warranty or guarantee claim. Prizes are non-transferable except in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. No substitution or cash equivalent is allowed. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prizes of the same approximate retail value. Prize consists only of items specifically listed as part of the prize. All costs and expenses not specified herein, related to any prize, including but not limited to delivery, installation, service activation fees, and other expenses incurred by accepting the prize, are the sole responsibility of the winners.
LICENSE TO ENTRY MATERIAL: As a condition of entry, each entrant grants Sponsor a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully sub-licensable and transferable worldwide non-exclusive license and permission to use, reproduce, edit, modify and exhibit, create derivative works of, transmit, distribute, and display the entry, in any and all media formats, whether now known or hereafter developed. Entrant will have no right of approval, review, or modification as to the future use, modification, or display of the entrant’s entry. Entrant shall have no right of compensation from, credit, or attribution, or approval over any use of Entry by Sponsor. Sponsor has the right but not the obligation to post any entry for worldwide viewing on the Internet. Entrants hereby forever waive and relinquish all so-called “moral rights (droit moral)” now or hereafter recognized in connection with any entry submitted as part of the Contest. Entrants agree not to issue any publicity concerning Sponsor. All entries that are posted on Sponsor’s website or elsewhere may be available to be viewed by the public.
Entrants agree to execute any additional written authorization or other papers requested by Sponsor in connection with the granting of such license, and any such written papers requested will be required as a condition of obtaining the prize, or another winner will be selected.
PUBLICITY RELEASE: By entering, entrants authorize the Sponsor to post their entries on the Sponsor’s and/or Pigment International™’s webpage, social media pages, and/or printed magazines/catalogs for viewing by a world-wide audience. Except where prohibited, acceptance of a prize constitutes winners’ consent that his or her name, likeness, voice and/or biographical data may be used for advertising and promotional purposes without limitation and without additional notice, compensation, or consent. Submission of content to be posted online constitutes permission for same.
RELEASE: By entering, entrant agrees to accept and abide by the Official Rules of this Contest and agrees that any dispute with regard to the conduct of this Contest, rule interpretation, or award of prize shall be submitted to Sponsor, whose decision shall be binding and final. By participating, you release the Released Parties from and against any and all injury, loss, or damage, including but not limited to personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, caused or claimed to be caused by your participation in the Contest. Entrant hereby agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Released Parties against any and all third-party claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees and expenses, arising out of or related to any breach by the entrant of any provision of these Official Rules, including, without limitation, entrant’s representations and warranties.
ADDITIONAL RULES: Entrant represents and warrants that: (i) he/she is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights to the entry submitted as part of the entry process, including without limitation all copyrights therein (ii) he/she is the individual producing the entry; and (iii) the entry will not violate or infringe upon the copyright, literary, privacy, publicity, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity. Entry materials/submissions that have been tampered with or altered are void. Sponsors are not responsible for: (i) lost, late, stolen, misdirected, damaged, garbled, or illegible entries; (ii) error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions of any kind, or inaccurate transmission of or failure to receive entry information by Sponsors on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or any combination thereof; or (iii) any injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in the Contest.
LEGAL WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT AN ENTRANT, TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE, DESTROY, TAMPER, OR VANDALIZE THE CONTEST WEBSITE OR INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST, IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL & CIVIL LAWS, AND SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND DILIGENTLY PURSUE ALL REMEDIES AGAINST ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of this offer, administration of the Contest, or in the announcement of prizes, including erroneous appearance of qualification for a prize, and under no circumstances will more than the stated number of prizes be awarded. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to modify, cancel, or suspend this Contest, or to amend the Official Rules at any time, without prior individual notice, should any factor interfere with the administration, security, or proper play of this Contest as contemplated by these Official Rules. If for any reason Sponsor is prevented from continuing with this Contest, or the integrity and/or feasibility of the Contest is severely undermined by any event including but not limited to fire, flood, epidemic, pandemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, war (declared or undeclared), terrorist threat or activity, any federal, state, or local government law, order, or regulation, or any order of any court or jurisdiction, Sponsor shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to abbreviate, modify, suspend, cancel, or terminate the Contest without further obligation. If Sponsor in its discretion elects to abbreviate the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, but not the obligation, to award the prizes from among all eligible entries received to date. All entries are the physical property of Sponsor and are not returnable.
DISPUTES/CHOICE OF LAW: EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED, EACH ENTRANT AGREES THAT: (1) ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THIS CONTEST OR ANY PRIZE AWARDED SHALL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY, WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION, AND EXCLUSIVELY BY STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS SITUATED IN WISCONSIN, (2) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS, AND AWARDS SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED, BUT IN NO EVENT ATTORNEYS’ FEES, (3) NO PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOST PROFITS, MAY BE AWARDED (COLLECTIVELY, “SPECIAL DAMAGES”), AND (4) ENTRANT HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO CLAIM SPECIAL DAMAGES AND ALL RIGHTS TO HAVE SUCH DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR INCREASED. WISCONSIN LAW, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO CHOICE OF LAW RULES, GOVERNS THE CONTEST AND ALL ASPECTS RELATED THERETO.
PRIVACY: As a condition of entering the Contest, each entrant agrees his or her personally identifiable information submitted as part of an entry will be used to administer the Contest, to select the prize winners, and to fulfill prizes. Such information may be shared with Sponsor’s agents and affiliates as necessary to administer the Contest, confirm winner identity or materials, and fulfill the prize. Information will be treated in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy available at https://www.ashro.com/cm/privacy-policy.html.
WINNER’S LIST: To receive any legally-required name of the winner, send a legal-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope within sixty (60) days of the end of the Contest to: 2024 Onward & Upward Artist Showcase Contest — Winners’ List, c/o Ashro-Brenda, Inc., 1112 7th Avenue, Monroe, WI 53566-1364. Winner’s List to be available by December 1, 2024.
SPONSOR: Ashro, Inc., 1112 7th Avenue, Monroe, WI 53566.
