latin grammy guidelines

i received the information regarding the contest. it is an open call, but they’re looking for Latino/a artists from Houston to participate [sorry if that cuts most of you out]. here is the information i received. feel free to pass it along to any houston latino/a artists you know who may be interested:

Create Official Artwork for the 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Artist Award Guidelines

Background
“Houston Es Música” is the Official Host Committee for the 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY® awards being held in Houston on November 13, 2008.

The Latin GRAMMY® Awards is one of the most important, most viewed and most recognized musical/cultural events in the Hispanic world. Broadcast by Univision in the United States and also broadcast in more than 100 countries, the Latin GRAMMY® Awards will put Houston very much at the center of the world’s spotlight.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science has partnered with the Host Committee and will coordinate the participation of artists. Works will be delivered to the HMNS by 5:00 p.m. on May 30, 2008 to the attention of Tiffany Silva. The HMNS will have a representative on the panel of judges.

Opportunity
Every year, there is an “official image” for the Latin GRAMMY®. This image is used widely and seen by millions (official poster, cover of the keepsake magazine, lanyards, passes, print ads, and beyond). It is an opportunity for the Houston Museum of Natural Science to collaborate with both the Official Host Committee and LARAS (Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) to highlight a Houston artist while also promoting the city and the artist to the international community.

General Concept
The work that is to be submitted must be original not copied and should not replicate any other work. It should reflect the artist’s vision or interpretation of the influences of Latin Music and imaginary while incorporating the Latin GRAMMY® symbol (The Gramophone) into the design. The gramophone horn must be facing the left and may be stylized to complement the artist’s overall poster design. The participant should portray the gramophone with dignity, high quality and originality and the artwork should incorporate elements that highlight a “LATIN” feeling. If possible, the art should incorporate elements that give the artwork a Houston flavor. This is not mandatory but helps to create a sense of belonging.

Dimension of original work:
There are no set ideal dimensions as long as it works in a ratio that could be transferred to a vertical 8 1/2 x 11 program book cover and an 18 x 24 poster. Otherwise, generally larger rather than smaller, as long as it doesn’t get difficult to handle or ship; 30″ x 40″ (that’s not an exact ratio) is usually a pretty good general size.

Dates:
The final artwork must be completely approved and ready for post-production by June 15th. This means that by the end of May the finalist must have been elected.

Draft Timeline subject to LARAS’ approval
May 19-21 HMNS contacts artists
May 28 Panel of judges is selected (How many people do you want on the panel? The
HMNS would like to have a judge and we can invite other arts organizations)
May 30 Pieces are delivered to the HMNS
June 2 Artwork is judged and winner is selected (contract is signed with LARAS and any
specific changes for the work will be requested)
June 16 Piece is completely approved and ready for post-production

Contract:
A contract is to be signed (model attached) and the work becomes property of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences in exchange to the amount of $1.00 USD. LARAS in exchange, offers to the artist 2 tickets for the Person of the Year, 2 Tickets for the Telecast and After Party (Premium VIP Tickets), local transportation. During the press conference where the nominees are announced (by September, 2008), LARAS will cover air transportation, hotel and ground transportation for artist in order to be present when the art is unveiled.

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You’re currently reading “latin grammy guidelines,” an entry on s i x 0 6

Published:: 05.22.08 / 1pm

Category:: Exhibits, Press, music

mcmatz 05.22.08 / 4pm

Really, is the contract to buy the work for $1.00?
I got twenty-five dollars 35 years ago when I won a coloring contast held by the local savings & loan.
I wonder if they let you retain the rights or want the rights and the physical piece?
If they are trying to promote Latin culture with the Latin Grammys, that amount is a shabby way of doing it.
The set designer will get much, much more and that work won’t be the image representing the whole event.
That dollar is so just a token – the probably spent thousands printing and mailing the submission guidelines for cripe’s sake.
And then they want the winner to come for unveiling like a dog and pony show? And not cover the airfare or hotel to the actual show?
Yeah, the exposure would be nice but you can get six-digits for winning the duck stamp contest.

If you enter, I believe you’ll win.
I would like to see you win.

signed,
miffed in Missouri

six06 05.22.08 / 5pm

i know, i felt the same way. i would feel better if they offered nothing than the token $1.00. still, i’m going to give it a go, nonetheless. your enthusiasm is not misplaced, trust me.

airfare, hotel and transportation is covered, though.

Victoria 05.22.08 / 6pm

I agree with miffed in Missouri. “Transportation for 1 to the unveiling” sounds like the artist will be standing around with no family support at a ‘supposedly’ important life moment. Latina/o artists have been involved in the free posters, free art, free tee shirts, free banners—free, free, free opportunities—over the last 30+ years, while they spearheaded our cultural pride movements through their free artistic vision. Not to mention the numerous fundraisers and causes that never end and seem to always require more free art. When are Latino/a artists going to be respected and compensated for all the hard work that it takes to design something from nothing? “Exposure” is a non-committal word for “maybe someone else will see you, and maybe they will pay you something” —but it has no guarantees and in fact, is such an insultingly overused excuse by those whose purpose is to blatantly take advantaged. An artist of caliber and experience will not answer such a ‘call out’. Unfortunately, this type of proposal is geared towards the inexperienced artist, who will learn soon enough (through these offers), how cruel the world can be. The nerve to offer $1 to purchase the copyright ownership of an image that will be plastered all over! I think Rosie of Rosie and the Originals got $200 for Angel Baby and that was considered one of the most criminal copyright thefts in all Latina history. I am more than miffed and totally understand clearly why Van Gogh cut off his ear.

six06 05.22.08 / 7pm

i’m not trying to defend them, i see your point, the both of you, and yeah, it strikes a nerve with me, too. the girl who designed the poster above was a student, and from what i’ve read, they paid her sophomore year of school. i believe it was equivalent to $7,000. [of course, i kinda just blustered through most of the stuff i was looking for yesterday on the previous winners]. and i do believe they mention TWO tickets and such. still, i totally agree with you two. i don’t know why it is as it is. seems to me LARAS and the Latin Grammys would have enough expendable cash from their sponsors alone to at least generate a stipend of $1000 to the winner. i’m not all sure what the “contract” entails, whether it signs over rights [i doubt it, most things like this involve the artist retaining all copyright, but giving the grantee a license to use the image for certain publications].

thanks, you two obviously passionate and bright women, for your input! but when i think about the possibility of my winning [unlikely], i think that i couldn’t BUY this kind of exposure.

Victoria 05.22.08 / 7pm

it says “A contract is to be signed (model attached) and the work becomes property of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences in exchange to the amount of $1.00 USD.”

six06 05.22.08 / 8pm

yeah, i saw that. the physical work, but in most instances, unless otherwise specified, artist retains copyright.

Victoria 05.22.08 / 8pm

Then the artist that wins should charge them for using the image. That seems fair.

i completely agree, victoria
a license to use the image, with a stipend agreed to by both parties. i think that’s only fair.

btw—what price is fair to pay for 100 giclee prints 8.5 X 11?

where are you getting these done?

in LA. I haven’t shopped yet—but, ya know? I get asked to donate so much art to fundraisers (that’s why I’m burnt out–hah)—so I thought to get prints made that I can donate. Alma Lopez advised me to do that, because that is what she does. I was going to check out giclees, but may have to do just regular non-archival prints if the giclees are too expensive.

ah, good suggestion! i hadn’t considered that
i sent you an email with all the details. i hope it helps. there are two kinds of giclees: the one with the extra border so you can mount it on stretcher bars, or just the cut-to-size type that you can frame. they’re BOTH printed on canvas, and i suggest spraying it with kamar varnish to keep the colors in place. it’s archival quality, but i noticed when i stretch it on bars, there is some distortion of color at the junctures. this will keep it in place, plus, since the output is matte, the varnish REALLY makes the colors pop. everything is much more impressive after that.

i myself actually paint over the first light application and wind up with something completely different than the original. you should give that a try. it’s fun

s i x 0 6 » Blog Archive » in progress : (sorta) 05.29.08 / 6pm

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