Culture Counts: UNESCO poster competition

Create the poster for 2010, International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures; a competition to promote better communication and understanding between all peoples and cultures.

Application Closes: March 09, 2010 at 05:59PM UTC

Public Voting: March 11, 2010 to March 18, 2010 at 05:59PM UTC

Results Announcement: April 05, 2010 at 06:00PM UTC

The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2010, International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures, and has defined three main dimensions: dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation.

UNESCO, as a specialized agency of the United Nations entrusted with the mandate to build “the defences of peace in the minds of men,” has been designated as lead agency of the Year within the UN system.

Let us recall that the quest for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples is deeply entrenched in UNESCO’s Constitution (1946) as one of the best guarantees of peace in the world and constitutes an overarching objective of the Year 2010.

Furthermore, one of the major aims of the Year will be to demonstrate the beneficial effects of cultural diversity recognizing the importance of transfers and exchanges between cultures through implicit or explicit dialogue that underlines how all cultures and civilizations are interlinked and contribute to the progress of humankind.

The strategy of the International Year consists in mainstreaming the above-mentioned principles in all policy-making at local, national, regional and international levels through the involvement of the greatest number of relevant stakeholders. The activities carried out under the International Year focus on:

• Promoting reciprocal knowledge of cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity
• Building a framework for commonly shared values
• Strengthening quality education and the building of intercultural competencies
• Fostering dialogue for sustainable development.

Participants of the competition are invited to express their vision and understanding of the “Rapprochement of Cultures” by designing posters that creatively emphasize the importance of exchange and dialogue among and between cultures in ensuring social cohesion and harmonious coexistence.

To learn more about the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures, visit the website at: http://www.unesco.org/culture/en/dialogue/rapprochementof_Cultures2010

Prizes

30 posters will be selected for printing and showcasing at UNESCO Headquarters during the International Festival of Cultural Diversity in May 2010. See “Proposed Usage of Winning and Selected Entries” outlined above for details.

From the 30, UNESCO will select an Overall Winner who will receive a $2000 cash prize plus an invitation from UNESCO to attend the poster exhibition at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in May 2010. The winner’s trip (airfare, accommodation and per diem) will be paid for by UNESCO. The trip may not be substituted for cash payment.

In addition, two DESIGN 21 Advisory Board members will select their individual Judge’s Pick with a prize of $500 each.

MORE INFO: http://www.design21sdn.com/competitions/21