JUST FOR LAUGHS 2016 INTERNATIONAL VISUAL ARTS CONTEST              
July 16-31, 2016 – Montreal, Canada

As part of the 34th edition of the Just for Laughs Festival, the Just for Laughs 2016 International Visual Arts Contest will feature works by visual artists from around the globe, illustrating in a humorous manner this year’s theme: SATIRE.
History: The Contest has an international reach since 2013, having exhibited works by some 120 artists from over thirty countries across 5 continents in the heart of Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles to more than 1.5 million visitors each year.
After the Funny Story in 2001, the Joke in 2002, Irony in 2003, Parody in 2004, Cynicism in 2013, Farce in 2014 and Dark Humour in 2015, another one of the themes from the “Twelve Universes of Humour” (1993 - Just for Laughs Museum) is assigned to be explored this year: SATIRE.
Theme: “Satire is clearly aggressive and biting. The style becomes highly corrosive to strip away social polish. Deviant behaviour and certain breaches to social values are the favorite targets of satire . With it, humour becomes righter of wrongs.”
2016 Finalist’s Exhibition: Presented within the framework of the Street Arts programming of the Just for Laughs Festival, the Contest will culminate with an exhibition running from July 16-31st 2016 in the heart of Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles.
•    Finalists will be selected by a multidisciplinary jury amongst hundreds of participants from across the globe;
•    Two winners, one in each category (“Contemporary Art” and “Illustration and Cartoon”) will be sharing prizes totalling $2500,00 CAD;
•    Honorary mentions will also be assigned, along with a Public’s Choice Award at the end of the event.ALL ARTIST APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAY 31st 2016.CONTEST REGULATIONS
Visual artists - graphic designers, illustrators, painters, designers, photographers, sculptors, videographers, etc. - are invited to submit a new or existing piece of work. It must adhere to the criteria laid out below and address this year’s theme: SATIRE (see definition on p.1).APPLICATIONS MUST BE SENT TO
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BEFORE MAY 31st 2016CRITERIA
•    Visual works need to be intentionally humorous and address this year’s theme, SATIRE.APPLICATION AND DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED
•    A picture of the work (.jpg or.pdf), submitted by email;
•    A text describing the work, along with its dimensions (approximately 150 words);
•    Artist’s biography (approximately 200 words);
•    The participation form attached (see p.3) duly completed and signed.IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION
•    Deadline to participate and submit application by email: May 31st, 2016, before 5 p.m. (EST);
•    Deliberation by the jury for the selection of finalists (works to be exposed) will take place the first week of June 2016;
•    Selected artists will be contacted by June 13th in order to proceed with the shipping of their work;
•    Last date for works to be received in Montreal is June 27th, 2016 before 5 p.m. (EST);
•    The exhibition will take place from July 16-31th, 2016 during the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal.
CONTACT     This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(514) 501-0262

PARTICIPATION FORM
To participate, please complete, sign and return this form with your application          

(following indications on p.2) by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                 

  before May 31ST 2016 at 5 p.m. (EST)

I declare that I am the author of the work (''Author'') I am submitting and that I am signing over my copyright. I agree to participate in the Just for Laughs 2016 International Visual Arts Contest and understand that the work I submit will be presented to a jury and that if it is selected as a finalist it will be exhibited from July 16-31st, 2016.I agree to handle all shipping costs for sending and returning the work if it is selected as a finalist and that it be returned to me within approximately a month after it is exhibited. The organizers (Just for Laughs Festival and URBANA Marketing) will not be held liable for damage, loss or deterioration of the work that may arise during delivery or exhibition.I hereby authorize the organizers to reproduce and distribute, in whole or in part, the work submitted to the contest for promotional or media purposes via any medium, including print, websites and social media. I also authorize the dissemination and use of any images or video of my person and/or the submitted work, and distribution of my name as “Author” of the said work.I waive my right to privacy and any compensation to which I may be entitled in connection with the use of my name, my image and the work submitted, including the rights to any copies for promotional purposes.
PLEASE SEND YOUR REQUEST BY EMAIL NO LATER THAN MAY 31st 2016 AT 5 P.M. (EST)