Artwork Competition

• This Year's Artist
• Rules and Judging
• Entry Form

This Year's Artist

Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival 2008 Artwork Winning Artist
Cedar Rapids salutes and thanks this year's artwork winner - Dan Alpers - for his outstanding design and festival inspiration.

This year’s artwork, by Cedar Rapids graphic artist Dan Alpers, creates a heart-of-Iowa visual focal point for residents and visitors as they Experience America in the Heartland during Freedom Festival 2008.

For Alpers the 10th time was the charm for winning the annual festival artwork competition.  A professional graphic design artist and founder of a volunteer youth gaming group – Central Corridor Gamers (www.ccgamers.org), Alpers is a graduate of Cedar Rapids Washington High School and St. Ambrose University in Davenport.  Alpers drew inspiration from acclaimed local artist, Grant Wood and his expertise in using composition, balance and movement, as he created his winning Freedom Festival 2008 entry.

Each year artists from throughout the region submit designs for the next year’s Freedom Festival official artwork and entries are placed on display during the current year’s Festival.  Dan’s winning design will appear on Freedom Festival 2008 buttons, t-shirts, posters, collector cups, as well as in the Festival’s various publications and advertising.

Back To Top

Rules and Judging

Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival Artwork Competition Rules, Judging and Awards

• The artwork must be original.
• The artwork may be created in traditional fine art media or created electronically resulting in a digital file.
• Each entry should be no less than 8" x 8" and no more than 24" x 24". The artwork does not have to be square.
• Because of the diverse applications and printing methods used for the Freedom Festival artwork, two primary considerations need to be given to color. First, the logo must lend itself to full-color reproduction in magazines and billboards. This means the artwork must either be digital or "scannable," utilizing available technology, with the result being a Process Color (CMYK) file. The use of metallic inks or colors does not reproduce well by this means. Second, the logo must lend itself to 6-color printing for T-shirts and Casey's Collector Cups. This means your artwork must utilize no more than 6 solid colors that do not contain any screens or transparent aspects. To satisfy the above requirements, you may submit 2 different executions of the same artwork. If you are unfamiliar with these printing techniques or terms please contact the Festival office for clarification.
• Freedom Festival reserves the right to adjust reproduction art for optimum reproducibility to a variety of visual processes. The festival will seek the approval of the artist on alterations but will not be bound or limited by the artist's feedback. The selected logo becomes the property of the Festival in return for the cash award.
• Original artwork may or may not contain the following copy: Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival June 18-July 4, 2009 (the dates may change at a later time). However, if your artwork does not contain the above copy, please indicate your preference for placement of a copy block.  The artwork may also be subject to insertion of the logo and such words as necessary to define a "Presenting Sponsor."
• Competition is restricted to Iowa residents.
• The winning designer for 2008 is ineligible for the 2009 competition.
• Artwork or design must incorporate original ideas of the artist. Additionally, because the artwork will receive widespread exposure, it is strongly suggested that the design not be a close derivative of an existing design.
• The artist agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival, Inc., WDG Communications, Casey's General Stores, Copyworks and J&A Printing from and against any damages or losses sustained as a result of any design which is not original.

• Does the artwork or design capture the excitement and festivity of Freedom Festival?
• Is the artistic execution strong? Is the piece aesthetically pleasing?
• Is the design an appealing one that will encourage sales? Will the design adapt well and allow for expedient and economical reproduction to use on buttons, T-shirts, posters as well as print and broadcast advertising?
• Is the artistic approach fresh and unique?
• To the best of the judges' knowledge, is the design original and not a close derivative of an existing design?
• Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival, Inc. will select judges for the competition.

• To be eligible to win the $1,250 cash award, entrants must be 18 years of age or older and reside in the State of Iowa at the time of the competition.
• Entry submitted must be original artwork or design. Artists may enter more than one, but no more than five designs.
• Entry should be mounted for exhibit. If possible, please adhere an easel for use in exhibiting.

Winning Artwork 2006 Logo designed by Michele Prostine

Winning Artwork 2007 Logo designed by Nancy Lindsay

Entry Form

Freedom Festival 2009 Artwork Competition Entry Form