St. Croix Chocolate Advent Calendar Art Contest – Official Rules
St. Croix Chocolate Company is seeking original artwork for our 2026 Advent Calendar. This is a one-time licensing opportunity for a single selected artist.
About our Advent Calendar
For over a decade the exclusive St. Croix Chocolate advent calendar has been a favorite tradition for our customers, both locally and across the nation. It celebrates Christmas in a progressive, welcoming, and non-traditional way that appeals to chocolate lovers of all faiths. Each calendar contains 25 of our signature chocolate creations that continue to delight year after year.
Prize
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Top three artists will be featured on our website and social media, with voting by our customers.
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The first place artist will receive $1,000 USD as full compensation for a one-time licensing agreement.
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Payment will be issued upon final selection and execution of a licensing agreement.
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Second and third place will be sent a basket of holiday chocolate goodies.
Creative Requirements
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Artwork should align with the St. Croix Chocolate brand: fun, creative, welcoming, and artisan-focused.
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Artwork should celebrate the excitement and joy of the holiday season and/or the beauty and fun of winter in Minnesota.
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Political iconography or messaging is not permitted.
Artwork Specifications
The final artwork needs to be 9x9 inches square. It will be printed on top of a box with 25 paper cutouts that open to reveal the chocolates inside. Each cutout will be labeled with a number, but you do not need to submit artwork with numbers. The template for final artwork can be found at https://aspecialtybox.com/square-advent-calendar-9x9x1/
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Artwork must be original to the artist. Stock artwork and AI-generated artwork are not permitted.
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Artwork can be physical media, including drawings, paintings, prints, and collage; and/or digital media, including illustrations, photography, and layouts, designed with the Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, or Canva.
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Final artwork should be high-resolution, at least 300 dpi, and in an industry-standard editable file format such as psd, ai, eps, pdf, jpg, png, etc. We will work with the winning artist to ensure their work is print-perfect.
Licensing Terms
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This is a one-time, exclusive licensing agreement.
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The winning artist retains ownership of the original artwork; however, the artist may not resell or license the same artwork for commercial packaging or competing products in 2026.
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St. Croix Chocolate Company will have the right to:
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Print up to 2,000 Advent Calendar boxes featuring the selected artwork.
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Use the artwork in marketing and promotional materials, including social media, website, and printed inserts related to the Advent Calendar.
Submission Guidelines
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Submit a high-quality digital image of your artwork (JPEG or PNG preferred) to jason@stcroixchocolateco.com
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Include your name, contact information, and a brief description of your piece.
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Submissions must be received by August 10th, 2026
- Contest is open to legal residents of the United States. Void where prohibited.
Selection Process
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All entries will be reviewed by the St. Croix Chocolate Company team.
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The top three entries will be shared on social media. Users will be encouraged to vote for their favorite artwork, however, winning artwork will be selected solely by St. Croix Chocolate staff based on creativity, originality, and brand fit.
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The decision is final.
Additional Terms
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By submitting artwork, you confirm that:
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The work is entirely your own and does not infringe on any copyrights or trademarks.
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The final work was not created using AI tools or generators.
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St. Croix Chocolate reserves the right not to select a winner if submissions do not meet quality or brand standards.
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Submission does not guarantee selection or compensation.
