Irish American Arts Awards - Recognize, Encourage, Celebrate

Rules of Entry

GENERAL

A. ELIGIBILITY

1. The annual Irish American Arts Awards competition (hereinafter the "Awards") is based in New York, New York, USA, and is held by The Irish American Arts Awards, Ltd. (hereinafter "IAAA"). Except where prohibited by law, the competition is open to anyone who was born on the island of Ireland, is a current citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a resident of Northern Ireland whilst being a citizen of the United Kingdom, which person must continue to be a resident for the duration of the competition, or anyone who has at least one parent, grandparent, great grandparent or great great grandparent born on the island of Ireland.

2. The IAAA intends the Awards to celebrate the level of practice achieved by artists in each category as represented by a selection of recent works.

3. Employees of the IAAA and of any person or organization who sponsors the IAAA, and the immediate family members of such employees are not eligible to enter the competition. Members of the judging panel and their immediate family members are also ineligible.

4. All entries must be the original work of the artist(s) concerned. All entrants must enter in their personal capacity.

5. The Executive Board of the IAAA reserves the right to call for submissions from selected artists, at its sole discretion.

B. HOW TO ENTER

1. The competition will commence on March 17, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, USA and will end on May 18, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, USA. An individual entrant may submit one (1) entry in total. A handling fee of $25 is payable for each entry form submitted.

2. Artworks in support of entries may be paintings, drawings, prints, new media and sculptures, among other types of visual arts. There will be two age categories for all submissions; one for entrants under age 35 and one for entrants who are aged 35 and over. An entrant's age will be determined by the entrant's age as of 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2007 Eastern Daylight Time.

3. Entries may be submitted in the IAAA website at www.irishamericanartsawards.org. Entrants are invited to include with their entry form a short summary of interests, achievements and any other noteworthy information. Entrants are also invited to include a digital (300dpi) photograph of themselves through the online entry form. Such additional personal information is not mandatory and such photographs will only be used to assist the IAAA in promoting entrants, and will not in any way be considered in the judging process.

4. Each entry must include at least three (3), and up to ten (10), recent artworks by the entrant as well as the entrant's résumé. Each artwork submitted must be accompanied by up to four (4) digital images of each artwork in jpg/jpeg format, each not to exceed 0.5Mb in file size. In relation to media works this is clearly understood as documentation and will not be taken as finished pieces but artists must satisfy themselves that such works are adequately represented. The Judging Panel will have sole and unchallengeable authority to decide if the work submitted in the entry is sufficiently recent to be acceptable for submission. As a guideline, an artwork executed within the last five years will be considered recent whereas one executed ten years ago will not.

5. Each artwork that is chosen by short-listed entrants as the one(s) that they wish to be additionally considered in the final round of judging must not exceed 50 pounds (23 kg) in weight and must fit within a cube 6 ft x 6 ft x 6 ft (200 cm x 200 cm x 200 cm). Artworks comprising more than one part must not, in total and when erected/arranged, exceed the specified size limits. Such works should be accompanied by a diagram indicating how each piece, clearly numbered, relates to the whole. Artists are required to do new work specifically for the final round of judging.

6. Any entry which has been reproduced from an existing photograph, painting or any other work produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Entries may not violate any U.S. or any other copyright laws and any entry with names, logos or other indicia that may be owned or controlled by a third party is ineligible, unless such third party indicia has been removed prior to submission.

7. Entries not meeting the above requirements, and which have been accepted in error, will be subject to immediate disqualification upon discovery of the ineligibility.

8. The Executive Board reserves the right to refuse, accept or display entries at its sole discretion. Entries may not be dangerous or potentially dangerous, or of a nature that may cause injury or damage to persons or goods.

9. The submission of the entry form will constitute permission to the IAAA to utilize, worldwide for a period of ten years, in any and all forms of media, in whole or in part, for the purpose of promoting, discussing or reporting on and assessing the Awards, the jpg images submitted with such entry form, without financial compensation, with or without the entrant's photo, likeness and biographical information, unless prohibited by law. The IAAA will always endeavor to have the artist credited by name whenever an image is utilized by the IAAA. This permission is to allow the promotion and free discussion of the Awards and purely applies to use by and on behalf of and in association with the IAAA in its capacity as a not-for-profit body. Any artist may at any time withdraw such permission, such withdrawal not to apply retroactively and to take effect 60 days after the IAAA has received such notification of withdrawal of permission. Each entrant is expected to have read and to be familiar with these Rules, and the submission of the entry form will constitute agreement and familiarity with these Rules.

C. AWARDS

1. Awards will be made in two categories: awards for entries submitted by entrants under the age of 35 and awards for entries submitted by entrants who are aged 35 and over. For each category of age group, there will be one principal award. The judging panel may also select in each category another award-winning entry and an honorable mention subject to the Executive Board of the IAAA deciding that there are sufficient financial resources. The judging panel may also highlight notable entries from each country in which entrants reside subject to the Executive Board of the IAAA deciding that there are sufficient financial resources for such additional awards. The number of prizes awarded overall and in each category will be at the sole discretion of the judging panel. The nature of the Awards made to the winning entrant(s) will be at the sole discretion of the Executive Board of the IAAA.

2. All short-listed entrants will be invited to attend the awards dinner, to be held in September 2007 in New York, New York, USA. The winning entries will be announced at this awards function, to be held in 2007 in September, and also on the IAAA website.

3. Winners may not request other substitutions for the allocated prizes. The IAAA, however, may substitute prizes and awards, and may change the financial value of any award, depending on available funding, and may do so without notice.

D. SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION

1. The members of the judging panel will be listed on IAAA's website, but are subject to change without notice at the sole discretion of the Executive Board.

2. The panel will judge the entries based on factors that may include originality, concept, design, the technical skill exhibited in the execution of the artwork, and the overall impact of the piece on the viewer.

3. The judging will occur in two (2) stages. The chair of the judging panel, with the assistance of such members of the panel as the chair deems appropriate, will select three (3) entries for the short-list for each of the two categories. The full judging panel will select the winners from the short-listed entries.

4. The Executive Board will notify the short list entrants by posting the selected entrants on the IAAA website. To continue in the competition, all short-list entrants are responsible for shipping one (1) to three(3) representative artworks to the IAAAs' storage facility in New York, New York, USA. The pieces of artwork must arrive within forty-five (45) days of the announcement of the short-list, and each short-list entrant is responsible for any insurance and shipping costs. Each short-list entrant is also responsible for shipping and insuring all entries during the return shipping process after the competition. All submitted artwork must be of such a nature that it can be packaged, transported and exhibited. The IAAA will be pleased to assist short-listed artists in identifying sources of governmental or private support for the two-way shipping and insurance of their work to the USA where possible.

5. In addition, within thirty (30) days of such notification, each potential winner must submit a signed affidavit of eligibility, release of liability and a publicity release (the “Affidavit and Release”), which will be made available to each selected short-list entrant through the IAAA website. The affidavit must certify the originality of the artwork. The affidavit must be accompanied by acceptable proofs of eligibility, such as certified copies of birth certificates and passports as proof of Irish ancestry, and a government-issued license or identification card or passport as proof of age. The affidavit must provide that each short-list entrant agrees to designate between none (0) and up to three (3) of the up to three (3) physical artworks submitted to the IAAA whereas the IAAA may choose up to one artwork from this selection, so that the artwork may be auctioned by the IAAA, with one-half of the net proceeds to be donated to a charity chosen by the IAAA, and one-half of the net proceeds to be given to the short-list entrant, and that all transferable rights in the chosen artwork pass to the Irish American Arts Awards, worldwide and in perpetuity, without any other financial compensation to the creator of the artwork. The short list entrant will grant the IAAA the right to utilize his or her entry, and to make derivative works of such entry, including the right to reproduce the same, in connection with the reproduction, distribution, public display, publication, republication, and modification of such entry, whether in whole or in part (including, without limitation, use in connection with any promotional materials for the IAAA, such as on the IAAA's web site and in advertising materials in connection with future competitions), with or without the entrant's name, photo, likeness and biographical information, subject to applicable law, and without the further consent of the potential winner or any other person who appears in such entry. The IAAA will always endeavor to have the artist credited by name whenever an image or artwork is utilized by the IAAA. One half of all directly attributable net proceeds from any such derivative works will be given to the short-listed entrant and one half of the net proceeds will be given to a charity chosen by the IAAA. All award recipients and winners must agree to make themselves available for publicity purposes and agree to have their names and photographs published in connection with the IAAA, free of consideration. If an entrant should decide that if short-listed they will not permit any of their work to be auctioned by the IAAA as described above or that they do not wish to allow for derivative works to be made they should mark their entry at the indicated place; neither such action will affect the judging of their work nor their eligibility for the Awards. The goals of the aforementioned auction are to further raise the profile of the artist(s) and to raise funds for the artist(s) and for charitable purposes at a suitable event.

6. For each of these three submitted artworks, the names of the two image filenames submitted should be written on the back UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER of the artwork, unless such artwork is a sculpture, in which case the names should be securely affixed to the base of the sculpture. All artwork being submitted for the final judging, except for sculptures, must be framed or otherwise complete and ready for display and must provide for a secure method of hanging (eye hooks, wire or some other acceptable method) where relevant. Any special installation requirements for other works should be clearly indicated. Each short-list entrant should take care that the same details appear on the entry form as on the submitted artwork. In all cases of discrepancy, the information on the entry form will be taken as correct. If the Executive Board is unable to contact a winner, or if any short-list entrant fails to comply with the above requirements, the Executive Board may select an alternate winner or an alternate short-list entrant, as applicable. The judging panel's decisions are final and it will not enter into correspondence with any entrant.

E. GENERAL CONDITIONS

1. All entrants release the IAAA and their respective agents, employees, officers and judges and sponsors from and against all claims and damages arising in connection with each entrant's participation and entry in the competition, or with the receipt or use of any prize awarded in the competition. All entrants agree to comply with these Rules of Entry. This competition is void where prohibited by law.

2. All entrants agree that if short-listed, any artwork shipped to the IAAA for final judging may be exhibited at a time and location of the IAAA's choosing at any time between their arrival at the IAAA's storage facility and the conclusion of the announcement of the 2006 winner of the IAAA competition. The IAAA will endeavor to always exhibit works in suitable and appropriate locations.

3. Each entrant is responsible for informing the IAAA of any changes to the information entered on the entry form. Should there be a change in the address of the entrant, or in the title of the artwork, this change should be communicated in writing to the IAAA as soon as possible.

4. The New York courts (state and federal) shall have sole jurisdiction regarding this competition and any controversies that may arise from this competition, and the laws of the State of New York shall govern the competition and all associated activities. Each entrant waives any and all objections to jurisdiction and venue in those courts and hereby submits to the jurisdiction of those courts.

5. Taxes, if any, shall be the sole responsibility of the individual winners.

F. DISCLAIMERS

1. The IAAA, its Executive Board, and its members shall not be held liable for any harm, damage, injury or loss arising from participation in the competition or the acceptance and use of any prizes or awards, including any consequential damages.

2. The IAAA cannot guarantee and is not liable for Internet access for entrants, the reliability of internet connections or the availability of the IAAAs' website.

3. The Executive Board reserves the right to change the name of the awards at any time and to operate under and exhibit submissions under the banner of the renamed awards.

4. The Executive Board may, in its sole discretion without liability, modify the Rules of Entry, with such modifications being publicized through the IAAA website, change the date of the announcement of the awards and the location of and holding of the awards dinner or any other event. The Executive Board shall be entitled to change the nature of, cancel or postpone the Awards announcement event for any reason at its sole discretion without being obliged to compensate any person.

5. Any media attention surrounding any particular entrant, short-list entrant or artwork is not indicative of the likelihood of being selected for the short-list or as a winner.

6. The Irish American Arts Awards will not be responsible for any damage, theft, loss or other accident to the digital entry submission. Entry of all items is at the entrant's own risk. The digital jpg files submitted will not be returned, and they may be destroyed at the option of the IAAA. The IAAA will hold the pieces of artwork submitted by short-list entrants and which have not been auctioned off for five (5) days following the awards ceremony. If the entries are not collected by that time, IAAA may auction them, with one-half of the net proceeds donated to a charity chosen by the IAAA and one-half of the net proceeds given to the artist. If the IAAA is unable to contact the artist for any reason regarding the proceeds for a period longer than thirty [30] days, then in its sole discretion, the IAAA may donate all the net proceeds to a charity chosen by the IAAA.