Heritage Edition: Soldiers Pocket Bible
Graphic Art Competition

The saying goes, "You can't judge a book by its cover."  However, that’s not necessarily true for the Soldiers Pocket Bible Heritage Edition. 

Soldiers Bible Ministry is sponsoring a Graphic Arts Competition to design the cover of the new publication, which will highlight the role of faith in the United States.  We are looking for the right graphic to convey the theme and draw the interest of the reader to look beyond the cover into the richness of this treasure.

“The Soldiers Pocket Bible predates tanks, airplanes, missiles, rockets, automobiles and nearly the flintlock rifle not introduced until 1630” says John Reynolds, SBM Heritage Bible Project Director. “It first appeared in England during the English Civil War.  The practice of distributing Bibles to soldiers in the field began with Oliver Cromwell who distributed them to his troops.  Since an entire Bible was inconvenient and burdensome for a soldier to carry, a 16 page, 4 ½” x 7” “Souldiers Pocket Bible” was printed and distributed to Cromwell’s Army in 1643” Reynolds explains.

 

THEME:  American Military Heritage
 
There is overwhelming proof that the Holy Bible has played a significant part in each branch of the American military from this nation’s very beginning.  Soldiers Bible Ministry is publishing the Heritage Edition of the Soldiers Pocket Bible. 

“The Soldiers Pocket Bible predates tanks, airplanes, missiles, rockets, automobiles and nearly the flintlock rifle not introduced until 1630” says John Reynolds, SBM Heritage Bible Project Director. “It first appeared in England during the English Civil War.  The practice of distributing Bibles to soldiers in the field began with Oliver Cromwell who distributed them to his troops.  Since an entire Bible was inconvenient and burdensome for a soldier to carry, a 16 page, 4 ½” x 7” “Souldiers Pocket Bible” was printed and distributed to Cromwell’s Army in 1643,” Reynolds explains.

For more background details, please see the recent Press Release by Soldiers Bible Ministry (click here). 

GRAPHIC DETAILS:
 
The Heritage Edition of the Soldiers Pocket Bible will be published in two sizes:

• 4-1/8” wide and 6” tall  (1 to 1-1/4” spine)
• 3” wide and 4-1/2” tall  (1/2” spine)

The first printing is scheduled for second quarter 2010 and will be the smallest size containing only the New Testament and Psalms.  This edition will have a light camouflage (digi-camo) mask over the graphic which will also serve as a fill-in for any uncovered area. 

The schedule for publishing the 4-1/8” x 6” edition has not yet been determined, although it is assumed it will be within the 2010 calendar year.  Details will be announced as soon as they become available.

The graphic will wrap around the entire cover (front, spine and back).

The winning graphic will most accurately represent the history of the US military from the Revolutionary War to present.

RULES:

• Entry Fee:  $25.00 per graphic (multiple submissions are accepted.)  All submissions must be accompanied by the Entry Form; click HERE to download.
• Full-Time students are exempt from Entry Fees. Verifiable proof of full-time student status must be submitted with completed Entry Form in order to be eligible for free Entry Fee.
• All submissions must be the original work of the submitter.  If graphics or images are used from source material, the submitter must own the rights to the complete graphic. Do not use any copyrighted characters or ideas unless you submit a copy of written permission from the holder of the copyright.  A copy of any granted right of use must be submitted along with the entry.
• Each entry must be a newly-made creation and not previously used or published.
• Entry may not be currently entered in any other competition or have won any other contest in the past.
• Submitters must be 18 years of age or provide written, notarized permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate in the competition.
• The artist’s name should not appear anywhere on the graphic. Proper acknowledgment will be given to the winning graphic artist in the publication.
• Entries that do not follow these guidelines will be automatically rejected and disqualified from judging.  No exceptions will be made—please don’t ask.
• All entries must be mailed to us on a CD (only one entry per CD, please). Entries submitted in any other format or sent/given to anyone else will be immediately disqualified from judging.
• By submitting an entry (or multiple entries), the entrant agrees to grant Soldiers Bible Ministry (a member of the Heart of God International Ministries network) total rights to publish, if chosen as the winning entry.  A signed release will be required from the entrant before prizes are awarded.  It must also be understood that the winning graphic becomes the property of Soldiers Bible Ministry and may not be used in any other competition, publication, or publishable media without the express written consent of Soldiers Bible Ministry and/or Heart of God International Ministries.

 

IMAGE REQUIREMENTS:

• Digital images on a CD should be sent along with the entry fee to:

• No submissions will be accepted by email or through any other media.
• Minimum resolution of 300 dpi.
• Images must fit the size specifications as detailed above.
• Only one entry per CD; if you submit multiple entries, please be sure to submit them on separate CD’s along with the entry fee for each graphic submitted.
• Entry must be saved in .jpg, .gif, or .png format.
• No text or other identifiers are allowed in the graphic image. Please write your name and contact information on the CD.  The entries will be copied and submitted to the judges anonymously.
• The CD's will not be returned.

 
DEADLINE:
  
All entries must be received by 12:00 midnight EST on February 28, 2010.  No extensions will be granted for any reason—please don’t ask.


 
JUDGING CRITERIA:
  
Your entries will be submitted anonymously to a panel of judges.
The judges will view the graphics and rate them based on the following criteria:

• Adherence to American Military Heritage Theme
• Skillful Development of Theme
• Technical Quality
• Content
• Overall Impression
• Publish-ability

The judges are looking for something different, eye catching, and attention grabbing—something that tells a message related to the theme before the book is ever opened.  They are looking for something unique, which is true to the theme and which will bode well with all branches of the military.  The difference between a winner and every other entrant is how creative, original, and professionally finished you make the artwork.


 
PRIZES:

• Cash Prize depends on the number of entries; winner will receive 75% of the entry fees (full disclosure will be made available upon request after the deadline).
• Credits for the cover artwork will be printed inside the front of the publication. Please note, this will be an immediate best-seller based on demand; the winning artist will receive recognition which will include benefits far beyond the cash prize.
• Free round-trip airfare for one(1) to Washington DC; details will be disclosed and published on the Soldiers Bible Ministry website.
• Feature News Release sent to over 6,000 media outlets including AP and major news venues, announcing the winner along with the first-place winner's contact and personal and professional promotional information.
• Certificates of Recognition and publication on the Soldiers Bible Ministry website will be awarded to the First and Second Runners Up.

 

Please email any questions to contest@soldiersbibleministry.org.