Rosemary Thwaites

AN OPPORTUNITY has been created by the Art Centre for visual artists of all genres to showcase their talent and win some money while doing it. The art supplies store, headquartered next to Olympia Gallery, has announced an open design competition for a newly introduced Loyalty Rewards Club (LRC) card. The winning design will be printed on the card and the designer will receive a cash prize of $25,000.

In a press release, the Art Centre expressed that the winning design should have universal appeal "as well as communicate the Art Centre brand as artistic, modern, and corporate". It should be noted that the Olympia Gallery, which is situated in the rotunda of a uniquely designed apartment building, has an artistic tradition that stretches back decades. Many of Jamaica's most talented artists have exhibited there, including Barrington Watson, whose large mural is a prominent part of the permanent collection. Other artists represented in the gallery's permanent collection include Christopher Gonzales and Alvin Marriott.

With one of its stores situated on the Edna Manley College campus, the Art Centre is well known to present and past students for high-quality materials, if not always the lowest prices. Managing Director Rosemary Thwaites says the club and the competition are ways of giving back to the artists for their continued support throughout the years. Twelve runners-up in the card design competition will be selected to receive consolation prizes.

An interior view of Olympia Gallery showing a portion of the Barrington Watson mural.

annual event

The contest could well become a regular event. Thwaites says, "Our hope is that this design competition can become an annual happening that will support young Jamaican artists and give them well-needed exposure."

The rewards card is an increasingly popular concept employed by major retailers in the United States - Kroger, Best Buy and CVS, just to name a few - and throughout the world. The basic concept is that repeat shoppers are rewarded for spending and encouraged to continue. For their part, the Art Centre's LRC cardholders will receive multiple benefits, including discounts, members-only special offers and first-bid opportunities on new and speciality items. Cardholders will also accrue points with every purchase that count towards cash discounts and are redeemable at will.

In a troubled economical climate, the Art Centre seems to have come up with a win-win solution. As a business, they can only glean good things from encouraging customer loyalty. At the same time artists, who have traditionally been the bulk of their repeat-customer base, will have a chance to benefit in cash and kind from the development of the LRC card.

The deadline for entries is November 21.

A bust of Nanny by sculptor Alvin Marriott - part of Olylmpia Gallery's permanent collection

The Art Centre at Olympia Gallery on Hope Road.