CONTEST PROMPT

Create and submit an art piece, within 1 of our 6 SJL approved art formats, that reflects how Black Music has influenced the unique culture of your local community.

ACCEPTED ART FORMATS

DESIGN

Entries must follow the competition theme of Black Music influence. 

• Competition is open to all 2 and 3-dimensional artists

• Files must be in JPG format

• Files may not exceed 1 MB 

• Only images can be entered

PHOTOGRAPHY

• Photo that represents the city while including the theme of Black music and its impact on your city 

• Collage or single photo 

Photographs that include sculptures, statues, paintings, and other works of art will be accepted as long as they do not constitute copyright infringement or fraud; entrants must be prepared to provide a release form as described below in “releases”.

When photographing the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment and not a full-frame close-up of another person’s art. Each piece of art (the “artwork”), in its entirety, must be a single work of original material created by the contest entrant or acknowledged collaborator. 

By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges, and warrants that the submitted Artwork is an original work created solely by the entrant, that it does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the Artwork.

The Artwork must not, in the sole and unfettered discretion of the Sponsor, contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content. 

GRAPHIC DESIGN

• Album Cover

• Merchandise Design

• Event Flyer (connected to an artist or event)

MUSIC

ORIGINAL COMPOSITION

Open to Singer / Songwriters, Producers and Instrumentalists. Compose an original or an arrangement of composed pieces inspired by Black artists who impacted your community.

• The song clearly correlates to the contest theme

• The song has clearly identifiable sections, verse, chorus, etc.

• The song is between 2 to 5 minutes

• Offensive language is prohibited

All submitted songs must be original, unpublished (or self-published) songs that have been written or co-written by the entrants

INSTRUMENTALIST

You will perform a composition or arrangement of a piece composed or inspired by a black artist who impacted your community.

• Entries in this category will generally be recorded using combinations of individual microphones and microphone arrays so that the musical balance, perspective, and spatial orientation are largely a function of the ensemble, the acoustic space, and the recording technique. The final stereo balance may be mixed and recorded live 

• Alternatively, tracks may be recorded to multitrack media and mixed in post-production. Editing is allowed, but overdubs are prohibited 

• This category may include classical, jazz, folk, or any other genre of music that is performed and recorded live in a suitable acoustic environment 

• Electronic instruments are allowed, provided that they are reproduced through acoustic means (e.g., amps and loudspeakers) and

VIDEO

MUSIC VIDEO

Contestant can recreate or produce an original music video inspired by a Black artist who impacted your community through music.

• Video must be 2-5 minutes in length. All content must be original content recorded by the individual or group

• Video must be uploaded as a .mp4 file via SJL spotlight portal

• Songs that are not original must be approved by SJL Contest committee prior to submission : if you are unsure of who to contact, please email contact@sjl4all.com

DANCE

Performers will choreograph a 60 second IG Post, Reel and/or Tik-Tok video to a song, written or created by Black artist(s) who’ve impacted your community, that represents your city’s local culture.

• All dance types are allowed (Hip-Hop, Modern, Jazz, Tap, etc.) provided that the choreographers of the group have proper knowledge of the background to execute it properly.

• Avoid copying other dance group’s routines, ideas, and concepts if you are not permitted to do so. 

• If dance movements, music lyrics, or costuming is deemed to be too suggestive or otherwise inappropriate for our audience, or if the music contains vulgar or inappropriate lyrics the routine will have points deducted or can be disqualified at the judge’s discretion and will not be scored or be eligible to receive any award.

MEDIA SEGMENT

Contestants will collaborate on developing and producing a Local TV news style interview on a Black artist who has impacted their community through music by showcasing community, culture, and personal experience. 

• On the scene reporter or journalist

• Interviewer and interviewee of local artist, or community members 

• Camera crew

• You can also edit together clips to put together a news story highlighting a topic that you feel best reflects the theme of Black music and its impact on your community