23.10.2013

Latvijas Pasts invites everyone to participate in stamp design contest dedicated to Imants Ziedonis

Latvijas Pasts is holding its third stamp design contest, for the first time in collaboration with Imants Ziedonis Foundation Viegli with a defined theme: associations with the eminent poet and publicist Imants Ziedonis. From October 21 to November 3, everyone is invited to submit their stamp design at http://jaunapastmarka.lv - illustration of poetry, fairy tales, prose, or creative and unusual ideas related to the poet and his works. The most popular design will be determined by voting on social networks and will be used to create a real stamp, which in 2014 will be released with a print run of 300,000.

Both natural and legal persons will be able to participate in the contest. All submitted works will be initially evaluated by judges, which include Foundation Viegli representative Māra Upmane-Holšteine, composer Raimonds Tiguls, advertising expert Armands Leitis and Latvijas Pasts Philately Department Director Edmunds Bebrišs. On November 5, the works selected by the judges will be presented for public voting - by using a Twitter, Facebook or Draugiem.lv account, users will be able to vote for their favorite stamp design at http://jaunapastmarka.lv.

The stamp that will obtain the most votes will be released in the beginning of 2014 with a print run of 300,000. The denomination of the stamp will be EUR 0.50, corresponding to the cost of mailing a regular letter within Latvia.

In addition to the chance to see their stamp travel to countries far and near, the winner of the competition will receive a prize - a graphics tablet - and an opportunity to create a unique personalized stamp set at Latvijas Pasts.

The stamp design contest has become a tradition of Latvijas Pasts that gives the public an opportunity to get involved in the stamp design process, which is normally managed by the special Stamp Issue Committee.

In 2012, 166 stamp design ideas were submitted for the contest, and 4,451 votes were cast. The winner with 1,181 votes was the stamp designed by Jānis Uzraugs depicting a BMX racer. The winner of the 2011 contest was Evita Eidinta with the stamp The Place Where Stories Are Born.

Imants Ziedonis (1933-2013) is one of the most popular Latvian poets, who was also an outstanding publicist, author of epiphanies and fairy tales, translator and scriptwriter.

About SJSC Latvijas Pasts

Latvijas Pasts ensures the widest availability of postal services throughout Latvia by maintaining more than 600 post offices. The primary function of the company is provision of the universal postal service; Latvijas Pasts also provides commercial transport, express mail, payment, press subscription, retail and philatelic services. Latvijas Pasts is a wholly State-owned company with more than 4,200 employees.

About Imants Ziedonis Foundation Viegli

Imants Ziedonis Foundation Viegli was established in spring 2010 to carry out a mission close to the heart of the foundation's patron, poet Imants Ziedonis: "Latvia is a wondrously beautiful land, but beauty must be helped to emerge." The objective of the foundation is to support and promote creative work in Latvia, facilitating the implementation of the ideas and values of Imants Ziedonis by supporting creative, unusual ideas and carrying out projects that reveal the beauty of Latvia.

Additional information:
Zane Plone
Public Relations Specialist
Phone: +371 67608504
E-pasts: zane.plone@pasts.lv
twitter.com/latvijas_pasts; facebook.com/latvijas.pasts