National Endowment for the Arts Kicks Off $25,000 Logo Design Competition

In case you haven’t heard, the National Endowment for the Arts has kicked off a $25,000 logo design competition. NEA’s new chairman, Rocco Landesman, is motivating graphic designers everywhere to come up with an identity that represents the phrase “Art Works.” The contest is open to anyone who wants to submit and the winner will receive a $25,000 grant to complete their design. According to the RFP, the two words, “Art Works,” have three meanings, from which the design work will be judged:

1. “Art Works” is a noun that refers to the works of art that artists create.

2. “Art Works” reminds us that a goal of art is to work on audiences and viewers to inspire, transport, and challenge them.

3. “Art Works” is a reminder that arts workers are real workers who are part of this country’s real economy. They earn salaries, support families, pay taxes. Artists are also entrepreneurs and placemakers, who revitalize towns, cities, and neighborhoods – both the economies and the ethos of them.

For all you interested designers out there, click here for the guidelines (but brace yourself—the doc is 23 pages long!) Deadline for submittal is February, 26th, 5:00pm EST.