Hyatt and Folio Fine Wine Partners announce that the Canvas Artist Series Contest is now open for entry

CHICAGO, IL,  2014-10-20 — /Travel PR News/ — Hyatt and Folio Fine Wine Partners today announced that the Canvas Artist Series Contest is now open for entry. Sponsored by Hyatt, and open to enrolled art students in the United States, the contest gives students with a love and passion for fine art the opportunity to create a signature wine label for Canvas wine bottles beginning in 2015. Additionally, the four winners will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to their art schools.

Canvas was created in 2007 by Folio Fine Wine Partners—a Napa Valley wine company owned by the Michael Mondavi Family—for Hyatt hotels and resorts throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. Michael Mondavi and his son, Rob Mondavi, Jr., president of winegrowing at Folio Fine Wine Partners, worked closely with Hyatt’s food and beverage team to develop food-friendly, approachable California wines that would appeal to the discerning Hyatt customer.

Between October 1 and December 15, 2014, qualified art students in the United States may submit an original piece of art depicting the characteristics of one of four Canvas varietals, which include:

• Cabernet Sauvignon – cedar, tobacco, rich dark fruit, and hints of oak and spice.
• Chardonnay – pure fruit and toasty oak.
• Pinot Noir – aromas of vivid red fruit with hints of spice and oak.
• Pinot Grigio – crisp flavors, lemon zest, and hints of nutmeg and lavender.

Judges will select three finalists for each varietal whose artwork will be displayed on the Canvas Wines website. Online public voting will take place between January 5 and January 31. Internal judges will select final winners on February 15, when one winner for each Canvas varietal will be announced. The signature wine labels will be introduced to Canvas wine bottles beginning in 2015.

“This is the seventh year that Hyatt and Folio Fine Wine Partners have collaborated on Canvas,” said John O’Connell, corporate director of Food & Beverage, Hyatt. “And, this is the fourth year of the Canvas Student Artist Series Contest. We are pleased to report that the contest continues to grow in recognition amongst both schools and students. In fact, some university professors are even incorporating the contest into their curriculums as both a teaching tool and competitive incentive. This is precisely the collaborative and collective result we hoped for, and students reap the rewards.”

“The name Canvas represents an art of living, and also refers to the artisanal approach we took when making the wine,” said Michael Mondavi, founder and “coach,” Folio Fine Wine Partners. “We are pleased to encourage students with the same passion and respect for art to create something unique, original, and long-lasting for our wines.”

The Canvas Artist Series contest was developed to celebrate the creative union between Hyatt and Folio, and to invite art students across the country to be rewarded for their creativity. The scholarship prize is consistent with Hyatt Thrive, Hyatt’s global corporate social responsibility philosophy, which is based on Environmental Sustainability, Economic Development & Investment, Education & Personal Advancement, and Health & Wellness.

Recognized as a leading innovator in hotel food and beverage, Hyatt offers its guests five Canvas handcrafted, artisan varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir – bringing added variety and excellence to the Hyatt dining experience.

The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

Abbreviated Rules 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Entry period begins on 10/1/14 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on 12/15/14. Open to legal residents of any 1 of the 50 U.S. states or D.C., who are at least 18 years old and the age of majority in their primary state of residence at the time of entry and who are full time students in an accredited post-secondary art program or at an art academy in any 1 of the 50 U.S. states or D.C. Void where prohibited by law. SUBJECT TO FULL OFFICIAL RULES available at www.canvasartistseries.com. There will be 2 rounds of judging to select the Grand Prize winners. Artwork only will be judged as follows in the 1st round based on: (1) originality of creative interpretation of the Varietal Characteristics of Canvas Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or Pinot Noir (75%); and (2) how well the Entry invokes and inspires the Canvas brand (25%). Canvas Merlot is not a varietal included in this contest. Based on these criteria, 12 finalists (3 per varietal) will advance to the 2nd round. Finalist entries will be judged as follows in the 2nd round: (1) on-line vote (20%); (2) originality of creative interpretation (as detailed for 1st round judging criteria) (50%); and (3) originality and appeal of Finalist’s written description of his or her Artwork inspiration and career aspirations (30%). One Finalist per varietal category will be selected as a Grand Prize Winner. See full Official Rules for judging/voting process and prize details. ARV of each Grand Prize: $5000. Except where prohibited by law, each Finalist and Grand Prize winner must be willing to undergo a background check and participate in phone interview(s), photo shoot(s), meeting(s) and/or public appearance(s) to qualify to receive the Grand Prize. Limit 1 entry per person and per email address. Sponsor: Hyatt Corporation, a Delaware corporation: 71 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.  For more information and full contest rules, please visit www.canvasartistseries.com.