We Are Icarus Contest Guidelines
By entering the contest, you agree to these official guidelines, which constitute a binding contract between you and The CLEO Institute.
1. Brand Background
Founded in 2010, The CLEO Institute is a women-led, nonpartisan nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to climate education, advocacy, and engagement. CLEO works with government, business, academic, and community leaders to advance resilient and just climate solutions.
Through art, education, and advocacy, The CLEO Institute empowers individuals and communities to take meaningful action on the climate crisis.
2. Campaign General Information
To spotlight the urgent need for climate action, The CLEO Institute is launching the “We Are Icarus” Art Contest on (September 21 – October 31, 2025).
Within Greek mythology, Icarus defied warnings and fell from the sky. Today, we once again find ourselves looking through Icarus’s eyes, ignoring the warnings of climate change. But unlike Icarus, we have the power to change course. By raising our voices, signing The Icarus Petition, and demanding bold action at COP30, we can secure a livable future.
We invite artists and climate activists to share their stories and perspectives through visual art. Submissions should capture how you’ve witnessed the world evolve, how climate change has impacted you personally, and the hope you carry for the future.
We are all Icarus.
We invite artists and climate activists to share their stories and perspectives through visual art. Submissions should capture how you’ve witnessed the world evolve, how climate change has impacted you personally, and the hope you carry for the future.
3. Contest Details
Submissions
- Submissions will be accepted from September 21 – October 31, 2025.
- All works must be original, created by the submitting artist, and related to the theme “We Are Icarus”
- Eligible mediums include painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, mixed media, digital art, and video.
Selection & Prizes
- Finalist(s) will be announced the week of November 5th, 2025.
- Finalist works will be featured across The CLEO Institute’s channels.
- One winner will be selected from the finalists to receive a $500 monetary prize in recognition of their work.
Jury
- The finalists and winner will be chosen by The CLEO Institute, drawing on the expertise of our staff, designers, climate advocates, and community leaders.
4. Artist Eligibility
- Open to individuals aged 18 or older who reside in the United States.
- Artists must submit their work by posting it with the hashtag #ArtForIcarus in the caption and tagging @cleoinstitute. We will use the hashtag to collect submissions.
5. Content Guidelines
We encourage you to reflect your unique perspective through your submission. Submissions must be suitable for audiences of all ages. Works cannot include offensive, discriminatory, or plagiarized content.
6. Rights Granted on the Submissions
Artists retain full copyright ownership of their work. However, by submitting, artists grant The CLEO Institute a non-exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and publish their submission online, in print, or in exhibitions related to the contest.
7. Florida Contest & Sweepstakes Law Compliance
This contest is a skill-based competition (artistic ability and creativity are the sole criteria for winning), not a sweepstakes or game of chance. As a Florida company, this contest complies with applicable Florida law:
- Contests based on skill, not chance, are permitted in Florida. This contest does not involve random drawing, lotteries, or games of chance.
- Entry to this contest is free of charge. No payment or purchase is required to participate.
- The prize is $500 (below Florida’s $5,000 sweepstakes registration threshold). Therefore, no registration or bonding with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is required.
- The CLEO Institute will maintain a record of the winner’s name and may disclose the winner publicly.
This contest and its official rules are subject to the laws of the State of Florida. Any disputes will be resolved through amicable discussion where possible. If unresolved, disputes shall be brought before the competent courts of Miami-Dade County, Florida.
The CLEO Institute is not responsible for error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alternations of entry materials, or technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware, or software malfunctions of any kind, or inaccurate transmission of or failure to receive entry, winner(s) or other contest information by The CLEO Institute or entrants for any reason whatsoever.
The CLEO Institute is also not responsible for any injury or damage to entrants for any reason whatsoever. The CLEO Institute is also not responsible for any injury or damage to any entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from playing or downloading any materials in the art contest or for entries that are late, misdirected or incomplete. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATIONS OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE CLEO INSTITUTE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
The CLEO Institute reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the art contest in the event of natural disasters or acts of God. Except where prohibited by law, entry constitutes permission to use the winners' names, likenesses and submission for broadcast, online posting, and/or in any other media, including for advertising and publicity purposes, without additional compensation.
This contest is subject to all applicable laws and regulations and is void where prohibited or restricted by law, including without limitation, in jurisdictions that require registration, filing, trust account, or posting of a bond, or any other requirements or disclosures that are not expressly satisfied by the rules.
Please note that any promotions of the art contest on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with these social media companies. The CLEO Institute reserves the right to cancel or modify the contest or any portion of it for any reason, if fraud, misconduct or technical failures destroy the integrity of the contest; or if a computer virus, bug, wireless failure, or other technical program corrupts the administration, security or proper administration of the contest as determined by The CLEO Institute, in its sole discretion.
The CLEO Institute reserves the right to disqualify, freeze or prohibit the participation of an individual if fraud or tampering is suspected, or if the individual fails to comply with any requirement of participation or with any provision in these Rules. The CLEO Institute reserves the right to disqualify an individual from future participation in a contest if The CLEO Institute concludes, in its sole discretion, that such person: (a) has attempted to tamper with the entry processes or other operation of the contest; (b) has disregarded or has attempted to circumvent the Rules or (d) has acted toward The CLEO Institute or any other entrant in an unfair, inequitable, threatening, disrupting or harassing manner.
EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED, ENTRANTS AGREE THAT ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THIS CONTEST, OR PRIZES AWARDED, WILL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION, AND ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS WILL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED BY ENTRANT WITH REGARDS TO THE CONTEST, BUT IN NO EVENT ATTORNEYS’ FEES. PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTAL OR OTHER DAMAGES. All issues and questions concerning construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrants and The CLEO Institute in connection with this contest will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without giving effect to choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Florida.
By entering, participants represent and warrant that they are eligible and agree (a) to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the judges, (b) to release, discharge and hold harmless The CLEO Institute and their directors, officers, shareholders, advertising agencies, employees, and agents from any and all liability, claims, or actions of any kind whatsoever for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind caused by your participation in this contest, any prize, or resulting from acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize, (c) release Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and their directors, agents and officers from any liability that results from you entering this contest and (d) to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy located at actforicarus.com."
** The CLEO Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to climate education, advocacy, and engagement. Through the “We Are Icarus” contest, The CLEO Institute seeks to amplify the voices of artists and activists, reminding the world that while we are all Icarus, we still have time to change our story. **