Poster Contest Highlights First Street North

Historic First Street North. (Photo by Mike Murase)

Little Tokyo Community Council and Sustainable Little Tokyo announces the First Street North Poster Contest, initiated by Little Tokyo Service Center’s (LTSC) +LAB and First Street North stakeholders to highlight and celebrate Little Tokyo’s historically designated block through arts, awareness, and engagement.

The contest is held in the spirit of Little Tokyo political posters and community art, and officially kicks off the #MyFSN campaign to celebrate the only historically preserved block in Little Tokyo and advocate for its self-determined future.

“Before the war, First and San Pedro was the heart of Little Tokyo, representing the largest concentration of Japanese Americans on the West Coast,” states Japanese American National Museum (JANM) Director of Programs Clement Hanami. “With First Street North and #MyFSN we are hoping to preserve this legacy and ensure it remains a vital and relevant part of the Japanese American community.”

Finalists will be selected based on how designs advocate for the preservation and future of First Street North block. Top designs for each category will be chosen for mass full-color reproductions and distributed throughout Little Tokyo storefronts, public spaces, websites, and social media.

To kick off the contest, posters from Little Tokyo’s rich history will be on display at Far East Lounge, located in the historic Far East Building at 353 E. First St. Contest organizers hope this will be a good inspiration for any artist. The contest is helmed by its slogan, “Our Block. Our History. Our Future.”

“We are collectively working to advance a truly community-driven vision for the future of the neighborhood,” says Rémy De La Peza, Sustainable Little Tokyo cabinet member. “This contemporary poster contest is inspired by generations of Little Tokyo community art with a message.”

All are invited to submit to this contest by 6 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Dec. 13 (extended deadline). To view poster entries, visit Far East Lounge or Sustainable Little Tokyo’s Facebook page online.

Finalists in each category will receive a cash prize of $250 each. Winners will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 18, from 3 to 5 p.m. at a small reception at Far East Lounge.

Criteria:

• Format 11 x 17” posters

• Can be multi-media, hand-drawn, painted, and/or graphic-designed

• Design should do all or any of the following:

– Represent Little Tokyo history that is specific to FSN

– Represent a form of advocacy, activism, or engagement with FSN

– Represent a community vision for the future of FSN that honors its past and is integral to Little Tokyo

People who frequent (live, work, or play in) Little Tokyo are encouraged to apply. One poster submission per artist.

There are three categories: Youth (7-17), Adult (18+) and Seniors (65+).

Each poster should be submitted with artist’s name, phone number, email and age. If under 18 years old, include name and contact information for the minor’s legal guardian.

Include one brief statement (one or wo sentences) describing your poster and how or why it represents #MyFSN

To submit entries:

• Email to pluslab@ltsc.org. Be sure to put #MYFSN POSTER CONTEST in the subject line.

• Drop off at Far East Lounge, 353 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90013, Attn:  #MYFSN POSTER CONTEST

• Mail to or drop off at Little Tokyo Service Center, 231 E. 3rd St. G103, Los Angeles, CA 90013, Attn: #MYFSN POSTER CONTEST

All entries become the property of LTSC Community Development Corporation (LTSC) and will not be returned or acknowledged. By submitting an entry each artist: 1) irrevocably grants LTSC a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use, re-use, copy, publish, republish in whole or in part, edit, add to, modify, and rearrange the entry for any purpose without further compensation to the artist; 2) represents that the entry is the artist’s original work; and 3) certifies that artist is the copyright owner of the entry.

#MyFSN is funded by ArtPlace America.