2013 CALL FOR ENTRIES: Calligraphers and artists from around the world are invited to participate in the 19th annual Graceful Envelope Contest, conducted by the Washington (DC) Calligraphers Guild and the National Association of Letter Carriers. The contest is open to all ages, with separate categories for children. There is no entry fee.

View winning envelopes from past years: 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 “Scripsit” magazine of past winning envelopes Themes of past contests

This year's theme:
"A World of Change"

Times change, seasons change, tastes change. Your challenge is to create a Graceful Envelope by pondering a change from the past or looking into the future to the kind of change you would like to see in the world. Winners will be chosen based on artistic hand lettering, creative interpretation of the theme and effective use of color and design, including incorporation of postage stamp(s).

Address the envelope to:

The Graceful Envelope Contest
100 Indiana Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001-2144

POSTMARK DEADLINE: Monday, February 25, 2013

The contest was created in 1995 by the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum, which administered it until delegating responsibility to the Washington Calligraphers Guild in 2001. Beginning in 2003, the National Association of Letter Carriers agreed to partner with the Washington Calligraphers Guild and exhibit the Adult winners.

In addition to promoting the art of calligraphy, the Graceful Envelope Contest celebrates the role of letters in binding people together and serves as a reminder that the people who deliver the mail are career government employees who take pride in their work and care about the communities they serve.

Contest Rules

WHO CAN ENTER

• Entries will be judged in these age groups:
  -- Adult
  -- Grades 9-12
  -- Grades 5-8
  -- Grades 1-4
• Only one entry allowed per person.

HOW TO ENTER

• There is no entry fee.
• Each entry must be a stamped envelope, either manufactured or handmade, delivered through the U.S. Postal Service. The envelope will not be opened.
• Entries may not be enclosed in a separate envelope or in any protective covering.
• Size may not exceed 7x9 inches. Standard #10 business envelopes are also permitted. (Some envelope sizes require additional postage.)
• Use calligraphy or hand-drawn artistic lettering to address the FRONT of the envelope to:
  The Graceful Envelope Contest
  100 Indiana Ave. NW
  Washington, DC 20001-2144
• On the BACK of the envelope, legibly print your name, mailing address and email, clearly labeled "FROM." Students must indicate their GRADE and may use their teacher's email and school address.
• To help the envelope reach its destination, make certain the zip code (20001-2144) is easily readable. You may also repeat the contest's address on the back of the envelope, clearly labeled "TO."

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING

• Creative interpretation of the contest theme to transform an ordinary envelope into a work of art. The 2013 theme, "A World of Change," invites artists to illustrate changes from the past or projections into the future.
• Quality of calligraphy or artistic lettering used to address the envelope. Computer-generated or -enhanced lettering is not permitted.
• Effective use of color and design employing standard media such as paint, ink, markers and pencil. Not permitted: stickers or manufactured rubber stamps (hand-cut stamps permitted).
• Entrants are encouraged to integrate postage stamp(s) into the design.

TIMELINE

• Entries must be postmarked no later than Monday, February 25, 2013. The contest will not acknowledge receipt of entries.
• Judging will take place in April 2013 by three professionals from the postal, calligraphic and arts communities. Only the front of the envelope will be judged; the name of the entrant should appear on the back where it will not be visible to the jurors.
• All contestants will be notified in May 2013 as to the final status of their entry. Although no prizes will be awarded, winners will receive certificates and possible media publicity.
• Winners will be exhibited online at www.calligraphersguild.org and Adult winning envelopes will be exhibited at National Association of Letter Carriers headquarters (100 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001; 202-662-2851) and may also be published or exhibited elsewhere. Non-winning entries will not be displayed or returned.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• If you have any questions about entering or if your entry is returned to you, contact Lorraine Swerdloff at swerdloff@gmail.com, contest coordinator for the Washington Calligraphers Guild.
• Schools are encouraged to participate. Not only does the contest allow artistic students an opportunity for recognition, but it teaches such disappearing life skills as addressing and mailing an envelope. Schools can use the contest to introduce students to the network of people and technology that collects, transports, sorts, and delivers the mail.
  -- Educational packet from the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum.
  -- Museum website information on how the postal system works, including curriculum suggestions.
• To learn more about calligraphy, see the resources on this website. Beginners may want to call the listed calligraphy suppliers for recommendations.

REGARDING POSTAGE for your Graceful Envelope: First-class postage is 46 cents for envelopes weighing up to one ounce. Envelopes that cannot be processed by USPS mail-sorting machines because they are square, unusually shaped, thick, or rigid -- OR contain clasps, string, or glued elements -- OR envelopes with the address parallel to the shorter dimension of the letter -- require 20 cents additional postage.You can use postage stamps issued in any year. NOTE: If you reside outside the US, use your country's postage in the denomination required for mail going to the States.