Motown Winter Blast Gearing Up For 2012
Motown Winter Blast is coming back this February 10-12, and organizers promise the eighth year will be bigger and better than ever.
But they need the public's help to design a logo, and the assistance of the business community if the traditional snow slide is to be included this time around.
For the first time, metro Detroiters have the opportunity to design the official 2012 Motown Winter Blast logo. Hosted by Marketing Associates, the Motown Winter Blast Logo Design Contest is intended to tap the community's creative pool of talent and provide a new look and feel for the festival.
A committee of Marketing Associates designers, along with the Motown Winter Blast committee, will determine the winning logo. The winning designer of the Logo Design Contest will receive a grand prize, which includes an iPad 2, a gift certificate for the purchase of art supplies, and a VIP Motown Winter Blast package featuring a weekend stay at The Westin Book Cadillac, dinner at Hard Rock Café, and other items for a total value of $1,500. The winner and the logo will be revealed at a press conference in mid to late January 2012.
"Marketing Associates is proud to support the 2012 Motown Winter Blast and engage our community in a hip, cool and artful way," said Jerry Curtis, Creative Director at Marketing Associates. "As a company based in Detroit, we know firsthand there's plenty to be entertained and inspired by in the city and adjacent neighborhoods. We're surrounded by a truly rich, diverse, dynamic and vibrant creative scene, and have long been committed to playing an active role in the community and inspiring others to do so."
To be considered for selection, all artwork must be created in a vector format using Adobe Illustrator or similar program. Anyone 18 years and older may participate. Contestants should mail logos in as a basic 300 dpi jpg format to Logo@winterblastlogocontest.com by January 16.
While outstanding sponsorship support and planned revenue from festival activities have officials confident of covering the $365,000 Winter Blast budget, another $40,000 would need to be raised to bring back the signature snow slide, said Jon Witz, festival promoter. The slide returned to the festival in 2011 after being absent for a few years.
While the snow slide remains questionable, the festival will again present a line-up of winter themed programming, including the opportunity to ice skate for free at the Campus Martius Park skating rink courtesy of Charter One Bank. Winter Blast is the only time each year where metro Detroiters can skate at no charge.
Other returning favorites include the Greektown Casino Ice Garden and the all-new Quicken Loans Taste of Detroit featuring restaurants from across metro Detroit and top bands also from across the Motor City. The stage will be one of three planned entertainment stages at the festival that may feature more than 50 bands, with the schedule also being announced in January.
Skating exhibitions, marshmallow roasting, carnival rides and four heated Comfort Zones round out the confirmed line-up of activities.
Originally created as the backdrop for Super Bowl XL, the festival attracted more than 75,000 people last year. For additional public information, visit www.winterblast.com or call 313-963-8418.
