Official ICAW 2027 Poster Contest Guidelines – Please read carefully.  If entries do not follow these requirement exactly, the design will be eliminated:

1. Fee: Free to enter.
2. Entries per person: Entries are limited to ONE SUBMISSION PER ARTIST.
3. Eligible applicants: Open to artists 14+ years of age worldwide
4. Submitting your entry: You must complete the online entry form application to submit your poster online. Please include a short paragraph on why you chose to participate in the ICAW 2027 poster contest and give an explanation of your poster concept.
5. The poster must include the following:
   International Compost Awareness Week
   May 2–8, 2027
   All Paths Lead to Compost! 

   The theme does not have to be below the date. You can use your creativity, but please make sure everything can be easily read from a distance. Do not add additional words or numbers to your poster. Failure to follow these instructions will disqualify your poster.

6. The concept and images of the poster should be based on the theme “All Paths Lead to Compost” and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, & Infrastructure. Compost is the focus of the contest. When creating your poster, please remember that the winning poster will be reproduced and distributed nationally. 
7. Only ORIGINAL artwork will be considered. No use of AI is permitted.
8. Please check your spelling; Any misspelled words or incorrect numbers will disqualify your poster!
9. Do not add any logos to your design. Posters that include personal or corporate information or product endorsements will be disqualified. The Compost Research & Education Foundation’s logo, along with sponsor logos, will be added to the poster below the winning design. 
10. Copyrighted Images/Subjects: Copyrighted, trademarked products, packaging, brand names and advertisements may not be used within the poster. Original signed release forms are required for persons, whether public or private citizens, who are photographed and appear on the poster. Release forms can be as simple as a paragraph stating “permission” from “subjects” with a printed list of names of the individuals appearing and signed by the individuals. If the subject is under 18, the release form must be signed by a parent or guardian. This rule will be strictly enforced.
11. Electronic Resolution and Format: Artwork is to be submitted in electronic format with a resolution of 300 dpi and in jpg format.  Poster should measure 12” wide X 18” high and be vertical (portrait) in orientation. Note: The contest winner will be asked to resubmit poster at higher resolution for reproduction purposes.
12. Judging and winner selection: The competition will be judged by committee on the following criteria:

• Marketability of poster to multiple audiences 
• Creative and original artwork and idea 
• Attractiveness in terms of design and neatness of layout 
• Overall impact: all graphics are related to the topic and make it easy to understand the annual theme 

Final poster: The Compost Research & Education Foundation’s ICAW Committee reserves the right to alter the final poster design or to reject all submissions for the final poster design. All submissions become the property of the Compost Research & Education Foundation and may be used for commercial purposes. No entries will be returned.

Deadline: October 22, 2026, 12 midnight EST
The winner will receive a $500 prize.

For questions, please send an email to icaw@compostfoundation.org