Arts Innovation Competition 2023

UCF Arts Innovation Competition: Showcase Your Inventions & Win Cash Prizes!

Create. Captivate. Elevate!

Overview

Join UCF's artistic and cultural innovation competition, where we challenge students to present projects that create aesthetic, social, and financial value from novel offerings in the arts, fashion, film, and other cultural industries. 

What's Art Innovation? 

Artistic and cultural innovations are provocative offerings that pioneer and nurture novel ideas and designs that challenge the status quo and enrich our shared human experience. It fuses imagination, tradition, and groundbreaking methods to produce expressions that resonate with contemporary audiences. For instance, a digital art installation might use augmented reality to let viewers "step into" a classic painting. A theatrical performance might seamlessly blend various cultural narratives to tell a universal story. In music, traditional instruments might be paired with digital soundscapes to create a fresh genre. This competition is a call for visionary artists and cultural enthusiasts committed to sculpting a vibrant, inclusive future. Students from ALL disciplines are encouraged to express their visions and talents in this showcase event.

However, innovations do not create value unless they can be shared with others. To realize the potential of your solution, you must also describe how you intend to deliver it to others, who you intend to deliver it to, and revenue you intend to earn to pay for creating and providing your solution. Artists and cultural innovators often earn revenue by selling or exhibiting their works, including paintings, sculptures, fashion, performances, and digital creations. They may also benefit from royalties, licensing agreements, workshops, crowdfunding campaigns, and collaborations with brands who sponsor their projects. Thus, this competition requires consideration of who solutions will be delivered to and how revenue needed to sustain those deliveries can be earned. Thus, in addition to describing a solution to a problem, this competition asks you to consider how you will provide that solution to those who would benefit from your creations.

✨ Eligibility 

• Open to all UCF undergrad and grad students from 2023-2024.
• Individual or team submissions are welcome. One idea per team, one team per student.
• Teams must have at least one key UCF student. Alumni and non-students can join but only UCF students may present.
• Previous winners are not eligible. Step aside for new Knights!

Support for Participants

We offer information session, one-on-one expert mentoring, and a special orientation to all students who are interested in our innovation competitions held during Global Entrepreneurship Week (see Key Dates below). Create and build your idea on our amazing new startup platform called SlyngShot – use your @ucf.edu and our access code “unofceflge2023” to gain access – and share your idea with a unique URL you’ll get with each idea you create! You can further develop your ideas by scheduling a Blackstone LaunchPad mentor to refine your proposal.

 Key Dates 

• Info Session #1: Oct. 23rd, 12-1pm in the Blackstone LaunchPad
• Info Session #2: Oct. 24th, 4-5pm in the Blackstone LaunchPad
• Deadline: Oct. 30th, 11:59pm
• Finalists Announced: Nov. 6th
• Orientation: Nov. 7th, 3-4pm in the Blackstone LaunchPad
• Finals and Awards Reception: Nov. 16th, 3-5pm in BA1 135

 Judging Criteria 

1. Understanding the problem: Demonstrates an understanding of issues involved and uses data and examples to characterize the problem’s significance.
2. Target population: Clearly identifies, understands, and expresses empathy for the needs of the target population, and uses data and examples to engage others.
3. Proposed solution: Offers a solution that is innovative, practical, directly addresses the core problem, and shows potential for long-term success.
4. Expected Impact: Provides clear metrics or indicators of success and sets ambitious, but realistic, goals for impact.
5. Revenue and growth strategies: Identifies potential revenue sources and presents a clear and credible roadmap for launching and growing the initiative.
6. Founders: Offers interests, expertise, and emerging capabilities well-aligned to the problems, people, and solutions described.

 Event Flow 

• 3:00 - Introductions and Kickoff
• 3:15 – Presentations begin, 6 minutes to present and 4 minutes for Q&A
• 4:20 – Judges Deliberate, reception begins
• 4:40 – Winners announced, attendees applaud, pictures are taken!
• 5:00 – Reception concludes

 Prizes 

• 1st Place: $2,500
• 2nd Place: $1,500
• ️ 3rd Place: $1000

 How to Enter 

Aspiring artists and cultural creators may complete an application by clicking the “Apply” button on this page, creating an account, and following the instructions on the application page. At any time during the application process, you may save your application and log back in to complete and submit your application.

Read More