Transition Nelson is organizing the “Imagine Transition” festival to give everyone a chance to communicate their vision of Nelson’s future.
Imagine our future and express it in music, art (includes photography), writing, video or opinion.
The post-carbon, resilient, sustainable Nelson of 2030 will be very different than today. How different will it be? What will the “transition” be like? How will it be even better than today?
In the spirit of fun, community bonding, inspiration, and awareness raising, Transition Nelson has conceived of a variety of open, friendly competitions called “Imagine Transition”. It aims to engage the Nelson and area community in creating their own expressions of art through various mediums. Transition Nelson hopes to raise awareness about climate change, peak oil, and the impacts these can have on our future community by hosting these arts competitions. People who wish to enter these contests will attempt to depict Nelson in a future, post-carbon world, or might visualize the process of “transition” that Nelson needs to go through in order to get there.
There are five main events as follows. Events include prizes and all offer high community visibility. Exact details of each competition and entry forms are available on this website. These competitions are open to all ages. Should you wish to use the Transition Nelson Logo in your artwork (no obligation), it is available for download on the website as well. By searching through the Transition Nelson website and learning more about the global “transition town” movement, participants can actively engage in the subject matter for creative inspiration.

IMAGINE TRANSITION WITH VIDEO
Interested participants will create a 60 second film (not longer) in which they interpret the notion of Nelson in ‘transition’, or in which they envision a positive Nelson of the near future (2030). Deadline for entry forms for this competition is February 10th, 2010, 5 pm by DVD submission. Submissions will be preselected and top films will be shown at the Capitol Theatre on February 27th, 2010, 7 pm in conjunction with the music competition (see below). The audience will judge the finalists in this competition. Performers and audience members are encouraged to dress-up in their most outrageous retro-1971 outfits in order to pay homage to John Lennon’s inspirational song “Imagine.” A party will immediately follow the Capitol Theatre performance at the ballroom of the Best Western. Winners will be announced at the party and prizes distributed. Prizes include: $500 First Prize; $350 Second Prize; and $200 Third Prize. Winning film entries will be shown again on the evening of May 14th at the Prestige to coincide with the Transition Nelson Expo. You must register your “Expression of Interest” before January 27th, 2010, 5 pm.  See and complete the Video entry forms, guidelines and submissions
which are required by February 10th, 2010, 5 pm.

IMAGINE TRANSITION WITH MUSIC
Interested participants will create original songs or compositions for live performance in which they interpret the notion of Nelson in ‘transition’, or in which they envision a positive Nelson of the near future (2030). The entry deadline for this competition is February 10th, 2010, 5 pm, by recorded DVD of the proposed live performance. Entrants will be preselected, and asked to perform their original music live at the Capitol Theatre on February 27th, 2010, 7 pm, in conjunction with the video competition (see above). The audience will judge the top three winners at this performance. Performers and audience members are encouraged to dress-up in their most outrageous retro-1971 outfits in order to pay homage to John Lennon’s inspirational song “Imagine.” A party will follow at the ballroom of the Best Western. Awards will be given out at the party. Prizes include: $500 First Prize; $350 Second Prize; and $200 Third Prize. Winners will be asked to perform their music again on the evening of May 14th at the Prestige to coincide with the Transition Nelson Expo. You must register your “Expression of Interest” before January 27th, 2010, 5 pm. See and complete the Music entry forms, guidelines and submissions which are required by February 10th, 2010, 5 pm.


IMAGINE TRANSITION WITH ART
Interested participants will create 2D (includes photos), or 3D Art in which they envision a positive Nelson of the near future (2030), or in which they interpret the notion of Nelson in ‘transition’. Deadline for entry forms and submissions for this competition is March 31st, 2010, 5 pm, by photographing the art work, or otherwise placing an image, onto a DVD. Art work will be preselected and top entrants will have their art exhibited at the Oxygen Gallery on April 17th and 18th. A wine and cheese gala will happen the evening of April 18th, in conjunction with the Creative Writing competition (see below). Top three winners as judged by the audience will receive awards on the evening of April 18th. Prizes include: $500 First Prize; $350 Second Prize; and $200 Third Prize. The top three winners will display their artwork at the Prestige on the evening of May 14th to correspond with the Transition Nelson Expo. You must register your ”Expression of Interest” before March 17th, 2010, 5 pm.  See and complete the Art entry forms, guidelines and submissions which are required by March 31st, 2010, 5 pm.

IMAGINE TRANSITION WITH CREATIVE WRITING
Interested participants will write poetry, a short story or an essay in which they interpret the notion of Nelson in ‘transition’, or in which they envision a positive Nelson of the near future (2030). Deadline for entry forms and submissions for this competition is March 31st, 2010, 5 pm, by hard copy. Writers will be selected by a panel of judges and top entrants will have excerpts of their work read to an audience at the Oxygen Gallery on the evening of April 18th at a wine and cheese gala in conjunction with the Visual Art competition (see above). Top three Creative Writing winners as judged by a panel of judges will receive awards on the evening of April 18th, 2010. Prizes include: $500 First Prize; $350 Second Prize; and $200 Third Prize. The top three winners may be asked to read excerpts from their work again at the Prestige on the evening of May 14th to correspond with the Transition Nelson Expo. You must register your ”Expression of Interest” before March 17th, 2010, 5 pm.  See and complete the Writing entry forms, guidelines and submissions which are required by March 31st, 2010, 5 pm.

IMAGINE TRANSITION WITH OPINION
Transition Nelson and The Express present “Imagine Transition” – How do we get from here to there? We want your opinion on what we can do now so we can move towards a world, particularly in Nelson and area, that relies less and less on fossil fuels. What can we do now and what can we do in the near future? Let’s motivate people to action. Your opinion piece does not need to include facts it can be pure opinion or be based on imagination. We want to hear from everyone, whether it be a professional or grade school students. Everyone knows a piece of the solution. Interested participants will write a 300 – 500 word opinion or editorial in which they interpret the notion of Nelson in ‘transition’, or in which they envision a positive Nelson of the near future (2030). Deadline for entry forms for this competition is February 12th by hard copy, fax or email directly to The Express office. This competition is judged by The Express. Prizes include: $150 First Prize; $100 Second Prize; and $50 Third Prize. Throughout the winter and early spring, publication of selected Opinion pieces will appear in The Express. The winner will be asked to speak on the evening of May 14th at the Prestige to coincide with the Transition Nelson Expo. See and complete the Opinion entry forms, guidelines and submissions which are required before February 12th, 2010, 5 pm.
Visit the Transition Nelson website here.