MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii Meth Project has announced its 2013 “Break the Ice” Art Contest, aimed at communicating the risks of methamphetamine through works of art.

The “Break the Ice” art contest is a way for teens to be recognized for their artistic ability while learning about the harmful effects of this drug.

Hawaii students ages 13 to 18 are eligible to enter the “Break the Ice” contest during the submission period of Sept. 1 through Oct. 20.

Prospective entrants are asked to visit www.HawaiiMethProject.org and choose one of more than 350 pieces of content as direct inspiration for their artwork.

The website includes interactive facts, videos, animations, image galleries, personal stories from users, and information from experts, which may be used as inspiration for the contest.

Using these tools from the website and a lot of imagination, teens can create a visual work of art in any style and medium, with the goal of influencing how people across the state view this harmful and detrimental drug.

Each piece of art must have a clear “Not Even Once” or other anti-meth theme. Contestants will also be required to submit a specific Hawaii Meth Project URL to indicate the source of his or her inspiration.

This year, there are two major categories.

The first is a traditional and digital art category. For traditional and digital art submissions, there will be two age divisions for entries: students in grades seven through nine; and students in grades ten through 12.

Due to online contest requirements, students must be at least 13 years old to enter and only one entry per category is allowed.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top entries in both age divisions, and there will also be a People’s Choice Award for the entry with the most “likes” on Facebook.

Brand new to the competition this year is the second category, a special sticker design contest. In addition to a cash prize for the top design, the winner may also have his or her winning sticker printed and distributed statewide through Hawaii Meth Project outreach efforts.

Student artwork in this category must fit in a 5-inch by 5-inch square. If created using digital software, entrants are asked to design to a 5-inch by 5-inch square at 300 dots per inch.

Entries must be wholly original, unpublished artwork and cannot incorporate or include anything that would violate copyright, trademark law, etc. of any third party.

Winners from each of the two age divisions for traditional and digital art submissions will receive cash prizes of $300, $150 and $50 for first, second, and third places respectively.

The winner of the sticker design category will receive $100 and the People’s Choice Award winner will receive $150.

Honorable mention winners will receive Hawaii Meth Project swag bags.

Those interested may visit the Hawaii Meth Project website for inspiration, create a piece, take a photo of the entry, and upload it to the “Break the Ice” art contest tab at www.facebook.com/hawaiimethproject

Specific rules and guidelines for the contest along with samples from last year’s competition can be found at www.methproject.org/action/hawaii/break-the-ice.html

Judging will be based on how well the artist portrayed his or her meth prevention message, as well as for its artistic merit and creativity. Submissions will be evaluated on thought, planning, artistic effort and creativity. Winners will be announced at the end of November.

The Hawaii Meth Project is a nonprofit organization that implements large-scale, research-based campaigns and community action programs to reduce methamphetamine use in the state. Central to its integrated campaigns is MethProject.org — a definitive source for information about meth for teens.

— Find out more:
www.HawaiiMethProject.org