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"Kodiak Strong"

Kodiak Mayors' Youth poster design contest

In the pasts few weeks, Kodiak has seen rapid changes in response to the global pandemic of COVID-19. Students, parents, and educators are working remotely in new learning spaces. Events have been cancelled, businesses have temporarily closed their doors or moved to online shopping, and every trip to the grocery store requires neighbors to be aware of their distance from one another. Our response to the coronavirus public health threat requires a shared responsibility to protect the health of elders and those who are vulnerable to serious illness. We are hunkering down and staying home to protect community heath.

Recognizing that the arts have the power to spark joy, inspire action, and promote togetherness, the mayors of the City of Kodiak and Kodiak Island Borough are co-sponsoring a “Kodiak Strong” Poster Design Contest for local youth. Poster entries should highlight themes relating to Kodiak’s response to COVID-19 including (but not limited to) hand-washing, social distancing, staying home, playing outside safely, caring for elders, caring for others, health care worker appreciation, and more.

So grab your colored pencils, markers, crayons, paints, watercolors, or digital arts program, and design a poster showing how you and your family are staying “Kodiak Strong.”

Eligibility and Guidelines:

The contest is open to all Kodiak Island preK-12th grade students. Students may submit up to three entries.
Poster entries should support and feature one of the following slogans (you only need one!):
- Kodiak Strong
- Kodiak CommUNITY
- A unique, brief slogan of your choosing that highlights our shared responsibility to community health

3. Students may use any materials to create their 2-D poster, and entries must be the original work of the student. Entries should be sized between 8.5” x 11” and 11” x 17”.

Rules and Important Dates:

Posters are due on Friday, April 10. Students should submit entries digitally as a .jpg or .png file (picture file) or as a .pdf to kodiakartscouncil@gmail.com.
Please create a digital file name for each entry that includes: the student’s name, grade, and school.
Though not required, students are encouraged to submit an entry form with their posters. The entry form gives the opportunity for students to describe their designs and any symbolism or significance of images. Entry forms may be typed into the body of submission emails or included as an attachment.
Kodiak Mayors Pat Branson and Bill Roberts and a committee of their designees will select an overall grand prize winner (cash prize of $150) and winning posters (1st place - $100; 2nd place - $50, 3rd place - $25) in the following age categories:
- Pre-K to 2nd Grade
- 3rd Grade to 5th Grade
- Middle School - 6th Grade to 8th Grade
- High School - 9th Grade to 12th Grade
Posters will become the property of the Kodiak History Museum as part of their Day by Day project to document Kodiak’s response to the pandemic.

Tips and Special Notes

Poster images and slogan lettering should be large enough and bold enough to reproduce digitally.
Be creative and colorful!
Students who would like to participate but don’t have arts supplies at home are encouraged to email kodiakartscouncil@gmail.com for assistance.
Families are encouraged to share pictures of their students’ works and works-in-progress on social media. Use the hashtags #kodiakstrong and #kodiakarts and #daybyday.
Participating in the Kodiak Strong Poster Design Contest implies agreement to publish and use images of student artwork online. Entries may be featured online on project partners’ websites and social media. Project partners include City of Kodiak, Kodiak Island Borough, Kodiak Island Borough School District, Kodiak Arts Council, Kodiak History Museum, and Kodiak Chamber of Commerce.
Questions? Email kodiakartscouncil@gmail.com and reference Kodiak Strong Poster Design Contest in the subject line.