Apply Now: International Compost Awareness Week Poster Contest

Deadline: 15-Oct-2026

The International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) Poster Contest 2027 invites artists aged 14 and above from around the world to create original artwork promoting composting and sustainable development. The winner will receive a $500 prize, and the winning poster will be reproduced and distributed nationally to promote awareness of composting and its environmental benefits.

About the International Compost Awareness Week Poster Contest

The International Compost Awareness Week Poster Contest is organized by the Compost Research & Education Foundation to promote public understanding of composting and its role in environmental sustainability. The contest gives artists an opportunity to communicate the importance of compost through creative visual design. The selected winning poster will be used to support awareness activities during International Compost Awareness Week. The 2027 theme is “All Paths Lead to Compost,” inspired by UN Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. 2027 Poster Contest Theme

The official 2027 theme is:

“All Paths Lead to Compost!” Artists should interpret the theme creatively while demonstrating how composting contributes to: The poster contest uses art and visual communication to make these sustainability concepts accessible to a broad audience. Who Is Eligible? The contest is open to artists worldwide who meet the minimum age requirement.

Applicants must:

Be at least 14 years old. Be located anywhere in the world. Submit original artwork. Submit only one entry. Follow the required poster specifications. Submit the artwork electronically in the required format. There is no stated restriction based on nationality or country of residence. Who Is Not Eligible?

Entries can be disqualified if they:

Use AI-generated artwork. Include copyrighted material without appropriate rights. Use logos. Are not original artwork. Fail to follow the required poster format. Include incorrect or missing required wording. Exceed the one-entry limit. Prize and Winner Benefits

The contest winner will receive a:

$500 cash prize In addition to the monetary award, the winning design will be reproduced and distributed nationally as part of efforts to promote International Compost Awareness Week. This provides the winning artist with an opportunity for their work to become part of a broader environmental education and sustainability campaign. Poster Design Requirements Contestants must follow the technical and content requirements when preparing their entries.

The poster must:

Be submitted electronically. Be in JPG format. Measure 12 inches × 18 inches. Use a vertical/portrait orientation. Have a resolution of 300 dpi. Be original artwork. Be created without AI. The required phrases must also appear on the poster. Required Poster Text Entries must include the following phrases as specified in the contest guidelines: “International Compost Awareness Week” “May 2–8, 2027” “All Paths Lead to Compost!” Applicants should check the official contest guidelines carefully to ensure the wording, capitalization, punctuation, and placement meet the requirements. How to Enter

Step 1: Review the Theme

Develop a creative concept based on:

“All Paths Lead to Compost!” Consider how composting connects to sustainability, innovation, infrastructure, environmental protection, and resource recovery.

Step 2: Create Original Artwork

Produce an original poster design that communicates the importance of composting visually. The artwork should be created by the applicant and must not use AI-generated content.

Step 3: Add the Required Text

Make sure the poster contains all three required phrases: Submit the completed poster electronically according to the contest’s official submission instructions. Each artist may submit only one entry. Tips for Creating a Strong Poster A successful poster should communicate its message quickly because viewers may only spend a few seconds looking at it.

Artists should consider:

Keep the central message clear: Viewers should immediately understand the connection to composting.

Use strong visual storytelling: Show how organic waste can become a valuable resource.

Connect to sustainability: Incorporate ideas such as soil, food systems, circular economy, biodiversity, or resource recovery.

Interpret the theme creatively: “All Paths Lead to Compost” allows for imaginative visual approaches.

Avoid unnecessary elements: A crowded poster can make the main message difficult to understand.

Check required wording: Missing mandatory text can result in disqualification.

Avoid AI tools: The contest specifically requires non-AI-generated artwork.

Common Mistakes to Avoid Applicants should carefully check their artwork before submission.

Common problems include:

Submitting more than one entry. Using AI-generated artwork. Including copyrighted images or other protected content. Adding logos. Using the wrong poster dimensions. Submitting a horizontal design instead of a vertical one. Using a resolution below 300 dpi. Forgetting one of the required phrases. Submitting artwork that is not entirely original. Failing to follow the specified electronic submission format. Key Facts About the 2027 Poster Contest

Contest: International Compost Awareness Week Poster Contest

Organizer: Compost Research & Education Foundation

Year: 2027

Theme: “All Paths Lead to Compost!”

Theme connection: UN Sustainable Development Goal 9

Prize: $500

Minimum age: 14 years

Geographic eligibility: Worldwide

Entries per artist: One

Artwork: Original and non-AI-generated

File format: JPG

Dimensions: 12 × 18 inches

Orientation: Vertical

Resolution: 300 dpi

Required dates on poster: May 2–8, 2027

FAQ: Who can participate in the International Compost Awareness Week Poster Contest?

Artists aged 14 and above from anywhere in the world can participate, provided they meet the contest’s submission and artwork requirements.

FAQ: What is the 2027 ICAW poster contest theme?

The 2027 theme is “All P