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CONTEST

Higgins Envelope Art Contest Envelope and letter

Envelope
Art Contest

Official Rules

​

1. Theme & Inspiration

We invite participants to design original envelope art to celebrate the launch of our new Acrylic Inks! The theme and inspiration of your designs are completely up to you! Here are some basic guidelines to follow:
 

  • Artwork must not violate copyright laws, and should be original to the artist.
     

  • Artwork must not be AI generated, digitally produced, use mass produced stickers or stamps, or use a collage of pre-printed or published media.
     

  • Artwork must be appropriate for general audiences – no offensive or adult content.
     

2. Contest Timeline

  • Submission Period: September 1, 2025 – October 31, 2025
     

  • Gallery Exhibition Opening: November 14, 2025, at Chartpak, Inc. Shop & Showroom (1 River Road, Leeds, MA 01053). Artwork will also be posted on the higginsink.com website and on our social media accounts.
     

3. Eligibility

  • Open to all individuals aged 18 or older. There are no location restrictions.
     

  • Artwork must be postmarked by October 31, 2025 and arrive no later than November 7, 2025.
     

  • Correct postage must be used. Chartpak/Higgins Ink is not responsible for undeliverable, damaged, or returned mail.
     

  • No restriction on envelope size, but the envelope must be able to go through USPS mail services and have the correct postage for the size of the envelope.  See USPS website for details: Letter Sizes and Sizes for Large Envelopes and Flats
     

4. How to Enter

  • Submit one physical, stamped envelope––no protective coverings or outer envelopes.
     

  • Use standard art materials (paint, ink, markers, drawing media, linocut, pencils are acceptable. Pastels and charcoal are discouraged due to the risk of smudging). Dimensional items should not be glued to the surface of the envelope due to postal processing guidelines.
     

  • Front side of the envelope is for art only (no personal identification).
     

  • On the reverse side, clearly print:
     

    • Your full name

    • Mailing address

       

  • Inside: Include a letter stating your 

    • email address

    • social media handle if applicable

    • the title of your artwork

    • the media used to create your art
       

  • One entry per stamped envelope; multiple entries are acceptable
     

  • Correct postage placed on the front, top right corner of the envelope
     

5. Submission Address

Send entries via U.S. Mail (first-class postage for standard sizes, more for nonstandard shapes) to:
 

Higgins Envelope Art Contest  

c/o Chartpak, Inc.  

1 River Road  

Leeds, MA 01053  

 

(Ensure postage and address are legible to avoid delivery issues.  Envelope emphasis on visible zip codes.)
 

6. Judging Criteria

Entries will be evaluated based on:

  1. Creativity.
     

  2. Artistic quality executed through hand-rendered media
     

  3. Overall composition, color use, and visual impact.
     

  4. Chartpak may reject artwork for any reason, including violating the submission guidelines
     

Judges will include art professionals and representatives from Chartpak, Inc.
 

7. Prizes & Exhibition

 

One First Prize Winner: 42 Higgins Inks including: 24 Acrylic Artists’ Inks, 4 Documental Inks, 5 Black and White Inks, and 9 Pigmented Drawing Inks, plus a selection of artists’ papers

 

One Second Prize Winner: 24 Higgins Acrylic Inks, plus a selection of artists’ papers

 

Six Third Prize Winners: 6 Higgins Acrylic Inks, plus a selection of artists’ papers
 

  • All contest participants will have their work exhibited at the November 14th flat file gallery showing at Chartpak, Inc. for one year.
     

  • Winning entries will receive a certificate and recognition in event-related promotions.
     

  • All winning entrants will be notified of results via email after judging concludes.
     

  • Envelope entries will not be returned—they become part of the contest’s archival collection.
     

8. Submission Terms

  • Entries must be postmarked no later than October 31, 2025.
     

  • No entry fee is required. The submitting artist must pay postage.
     

  • By submitting, participants grant Higgins Ink the right to photograph and publicize their envelope art—at exhibition, online galleries, or promotional materials for future envelope art contests—crediting the artist.
     

  • Artwork must be original and created by the submitting artist.
     

9. Contact & Questions

Questions may be directed via DM on our Higgins Inks social media accounts on Instagram or Facebook.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
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