<br><div class="gmail_quote"><div style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">=========================</span></div><span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">The Illinois Humanities Council, with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is sponsoring a nationwide challenge called Looking@Democracy. The purpose of this competition is to generate short, provocative digital media content designed to spark a national conversation about how we can all come together to strengthen American democracy. A total of $100,000 in prize money in 5 categories will be awarded. </span><br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">Submissions may take the form of short videos, audio clips, animation, music videos, public service announcements, infographics, graphic art, and even Facebook and iPhone apps. They all just need to be digital so they can be shared electronically. </span><br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">For more details, see the competition page: </span><a href="http://www.lookingatdemocracy.org/" style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;color:blue;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px" target="_blank">http://www.LookingAtDemocracy.org</a><span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">. </span><br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">Submissions will be accepted beginning February 4th, 2013. The deadline is April 30, 2013. </span><br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">We are hoping you might help to build awareness for this national competition – by featuring this challenge on your website, sending this note to your email lists, through social media, etc. Our hope is to generate interest and encourage thinking about possible projects. </span><br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">If you have any questions, please contact us at </span><a href="mailto:lookingatdemocracy@prairie.org" style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;color:blue;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px" target="_blank">lookingatdemocracy@prairie.org</a><span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">. </span><br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">Sincerely, </span><br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">Geoffrey Banks </span><br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">Director of Programs & Partnerships </span><br style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">


<span style="text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-variant:normal;text-align:start;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:normal;text-transform:none;font-size:small;white-space:normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;word-spacing:0px">Illinois Humanities Council</span>
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