FAQ's Arts
Who is eligible to participate as an artist at the GE Festival?
Ismailis and their multi-faith spouses and children are eligible to participate as artists at the GE Festival.
How old do I have to be to participate as an artist at the GE Festival?
There is no minimum age to participate as an artist at the regional, national, or the international GE Festival.
Please Note: Any artist under the age of eighteen as of 31 May 2024 will be considered a minor artist and must be accompanied by a chaperone at all times during the GE Festival.
To which country’s National Arts Festival can I submit my work?
An artist may submit work to the qualifying round for the National Council jurisdiction in which the artist resides at the time of the first qualifying round in that National Council jurisdiction or where the artist resided up to six months before the first qualifying round in that National Council jurisdiction.
Can I represent more than one National Council jurisdiction at the GE Festival?
No. An artist can only represent one National Council jurisdiction at the GE Festival.
What if I am a student or am working on a temporary assignment outside of my National Council jurisdiction?
A student attending school outside of his/her National Council jurisdiction or a consultant who is working on a temporary assignment outside of his/her National Council jurisdiction may submit work for the first qualifying round in the National Council jurisdiction in which he/she permanently resides or the one in which he/she currently studies or works. Documentation will be required to prove that the individual is a student or on temporary assignment.
Can I change my submission after I submit it?
No, the work may generally not be updated after submission, unless requested by the GE Organising Team.
In the case of films, non-substantial refinements may be submitted up to the first qualifying round of the National Festival.
Please note that all updates require the approval of the GE Organising Team.
Can I make submissions to multiple categories?
Only one submission per artist will be permitted at the GE Festival. Regional and National Arts Festivals, may allow more than one submission.
In which language should my submission be made?
Your submission can be in any language you choose it to be. All submissions selected to be displayed as part of the GE Festival should also be translated into the English language. Artists may do so with the support of the jurisdiction’s National Arts Coordinator.
How should the creative prompts be incorporated in my submission?
Artists are encouraged to be creative with the use of the prompt (Express what you CARE about through art!).
The intention is not that all submissions must be religious, but should relate to the creative prompt. The prompt can be interpreted by the artists freely. As part of the application process, each artist or group will be asked to describe how their submission connects to the creative prompt.
What happens if an artist plagiarizes the work of another?
Plagiarism is strictly not permitted in any way, shape or form. If the GE Organizing Team learns at any time that the artist responsible for submitting an entry was not the original creator of the work that he/she claims he/she created or plagiarized the work in any way, the artist will be disqualified from participation at the GE Festival.
Who is responsible for obtaining the licenses and necessary copyright allowances?
Each artist is responsible for obtaining the necessary copyright allowances for use of published works in their art forms (e.g., music for dances, footage for films, etc.). Artists are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary licenses, rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their artistic pieces, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. Artists must retain written documentation of all licenses obtained and may be asked to produce such documentation in the event of a dispute. Jubilee Arts expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility for any violations of the foregoing,
Are there limitations on what content I can submit at the GE Festival?
All content must be deemed appropriate for audiences of all ages. Following are some examples of content that would not be considered appropriate for the GE Festival:
- Images of the Imams or Mawlana Hazar Imam's family Personal Standard of Mawlana Hazar Imam, Imamat Crest, Ismaili Flag, Nashid al-Imamah, Taj, Volunteer Badge, Jubilee Logos, AKDN and other Institutional logos
- Clear images of children (under 18) without the documented consent of a parent or legal guardian
- Foul or offensive images or language (e.g., nudity, excessive violence, sexually suggestive images or language, profanity)
- Subliminal messages to inappropriate or offensive statements
- Sexually suggestive or other provocative dance moves
- Content that has implied meanings/messages that are deemed inappropriate
Art submissions that include content relating to the practice of the faith, religious ceremonies, or rituals that are performed within the Jamatkhanas will not be permitted at the National and international Arts Festivals. Use of dua, farmans, ginans, madohs, zikr, or other religious rituals as background music, backdrops, or dialogues for films are some examples that will not be permitted in the Film Festival.
This is not a complete list. The National Council or equivalent authority may establish additional parameters for content that is deemed inappropriate, which are not included in the list above. The Jubilee Arts - Organising Team reserves the right and sole discretion to deny entry into the GE Festival to any submission that (1) does not meet its standards of high quality and excellence or (2) fails to meet any of its policies or submission guidelines.
All National Council submissions for the GE Festival must be reviewed and approved by the GE Organizing Team prior to advancing to the GE Festival
JA Anchor Specific Questions
Frequently Asked Questions - IAG
Does my submission for the IAG need to be an original work?
Yes, all submissions for the IAG must be conceived by and created by the artist(s) who submit(s) the work.
Frequently Asked Questions - IFF
Does my submission for IFF need to be a recently produced film?
There is no date restriction on when a film was produced. This rule may change for future festivals.
Can films that were submitted to a previous Jubilee Arts Festival be submitted again?
No, films submitted to previous Regional, National, or International Jubilee Arts Film Festivals may not be submitted again.
Must I own the film being submitted to IFF?
You may submit a film that you do not own, provided you 1) Played a significant role in the production of the film (ie: director, producer, cinematographer, composer, lead actor etc); 2) You confirm that you have permission from the owner (copyright holder) of the film prior to submitting the film to the Jubilee Arts Festival. You may be asked to provide proof of written permission from the owner.
Must all content in the film be created by myself or even the owner of the film?
No, however any third party content (ie: stock footage, photos, graphics, audio etc) included in the film, must have permission from the original copyright holder of that content. You may be asked to provide proof of written permission from the copyright holder of the third party content.
How do I learn more about copyright?
There are many sources online, and it is best to consult a copyright lawyer for legal advice. Here is a useful link explaining the basics of copyright.
Frequently Asked Questions - IPAS
Does a submission for IPAS need to be an original work?
No. Artists are not required to create an original performance for IPAS. Artists may perform music, poetry, songs, dance styles and other performances that were created by others. However, artists must obtain all necessary licenses and permissions from the authors of the work. Artists must provide evidence of these permissions upon request. Credit must be given to the creators and owners of all performances.
