Full service agency Ashgrove Marketing has announced ?1,750 in cash prizes for the Ashgrove Creative Awards, a competition which seeks to unearth creative new talent on the Isle of Man.

Open to anyone over the age of 16 who doesn’t use their artistic talent as their main source of income, the Ashgrove Creative Awards offer the chance for aspiring creatives to unleash their imagination and show how they could bring a brand or campaign to life.

Winners of each of the six categories will receive ?250 and see their work showcased in Gallery magazine. An additional ?250 prize will be given to the “People’s Choice” award, as voted by Ashgrove’s social media followers, and the overall winner, drawn from all categories, will receive a three-month internship at Ashgrove Marketing’s headquarters in Tromode to help launch them on their way to a career in marketing, PR or the creative arts.

The cash prizes have been made possible by the generous sponsorship of local businesses including Boston, Ramsey Crookall, Sure, Thomas Patrick and Matt Mosur Photography.

Ashgrove Creative Awards coordinator Callum Finch says: “I would like to say a massive thank you to all our sponsors for supporting the awards. They have enabled us to show aspiring creatives that their ‘hobbies’ can become careers. Creativity, innovation and passion are hugely attractive qualities to employers and the Ashgrove Creative Awards brings out these qualities. If we can help realise the potential of even one local person and show them that they can make a living doing what they love then we have achieved our goal.”

Entrants can submit a piece of work in any of six categories. These include:

· Copywriting. Writing with an agenda for advertising, PR, websites, SEO or creative campaigns.
· Design and Branding. Exploring imagery to showcase brands. Submissions in this category could include photo manipulation, branding, an advertising campaign or a corporate brochure.
· Innovation. Anything from start-up ideas to a new use of technology.
· Multimedia. Video, animation, film, apps and games.
· Online and Digital. This could include social media campaigns, website designs or an online marketing campaign.
· Photography. Using the perfect image to express an idea or product, design an advert, present an art direction or showcase a brand.

The closing date for the Ashgrove Creative Awards is Monday 8th August 2016. More information and entry details are on www.ashgrovemarketing.im/aca. 

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact Callum Finch at callum@ashgrovemarketing.com or call 645390.