22.11.2013

The winner of the stamp design contest organized by Latvijas Pasts and Imants Ziedonis Foundation Viegli is the stamp Imants Ziedonis Will Bloom Eternally, designed by Andra Pētersone, which received 2074 votes. The concept will be used to develop a real stamp, which will be released in January 2014 with a print run of 300,000 and a denomination of €0.50.

Like in the previous stamp design contests held by Latvijas Pasts, the voting in the final days was very intense, and the two most popular stamps went toe to toe until the last minute. The voting concluded on November 19 at 11:59 PM, and the design submitted by Andra Pētersone emerged victorious; the runner-up with 2017 votes was the stamp designed by Egija Zīrāpa. The third place with 279 votes was taken by the stamp design Little Flame - Colored Tales by Elvita Vilcāne. All submitted works and the number of votes cast for each design can be viewed here: http://jaunapastmarka.lv/finalisti.

In addition to the chance to see her 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 second and third place winners will receive the book From Jāņi to Murjāņi by Ziedonis and Aivars Berķis and the CD-format record Epiphanies with poems by Ziedonis and music by composer Raimonds Tiguls, with personalized dedications from the composer and representatives of the foundation Viegli.

The stamp design contest was held by Latvijas Pasts for the third time, and for the first time with a defined theme. From October 21 to November 8, everyone was invited to visit the site http://jaunapastmarka.lv and submit a stamp design concept associated with Imants Ziedonis - illustration of poetry, fairy tales, prose, or creative and unusual ideas related to the poet and his works. All submitted concepts were initially evaluated by judges, which included foundation Viegli representative Māra Upmane-Holšteine, composer Raimonds Tiguls, advertising expert Armands Leitis and Latvijas Pasts Philately Department Director Edmunds Bebrišs. On November 11, the works selected by the judges were presented for public voting - by using a Twitter, Facebook or Draugiem.lv account, users were able to vote for their favorite stamp design at http://jaunapastmarka.lv.

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.

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 implementation of the ideas and values of Imants Ziedonis by supporting creative, unusual endeavors and carrying out projects that reveal the beauty of Latvia.

Additional information:

Zane Plone

Public Relations Specialist

Phone: +371 67608504
E-mail: zane.plone@pasts.lv
twitter.com/latvijas_pasts; facebook.com/latvijas.pasts