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The Speculative Art Expo Official Rules

The Speculative Art Expo Official Rules

These are the Official Rules governing the Society of Actuaries’ (“SOA”) Speculative Art Expo Contest (Contest). In these rules, “you” and “your” refers to an eligible Contest entrant (Entrant). By entering, Entrants acknowledge compliance with these Official Rules including all eligibility requirements.

1. CONTEST ENTRY PERIOD

Submission period begins Oct. 1, 2024, at 12:00:01 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) and ends Feb. 28, 2025, at 11:59:59 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) (Entry Period). You may enter the Contest by completing an Official Entry Form prior to the close of the Entry Period.

2. CONTEST GUIDELINES

Entrants must submit in accordance with the following rules:

  • Creative entries can take the form of (1) Creative writing in all forms other than narrative fiction such as poetry, screenplays, comics, graphic stories, etc. and (2) Art in any medium: such as digital graphics, photography, painting, sketch, sculpture, videos, music, etc.
  • **NEW** Any AI tools used in your entry shall be disclosed in writing and documented responsibly and appropriately. You are accountable for the originality of the content of your entry and for ensuring any AI-generated material has been disclosed to the SOA.
  • Videos and music are not to exceed 3 minutes.
  • Written submissions must be in English and not exceed 3000 words.
  • Entrants must use their real name on the submission form and any display.
  • Written entries may be submitted in Microsoft® Word and PDF formats.
  • Non-written entries must be submitted via a link (YouTube, SoundCloud, etc.) or as a document or photograph and must include a written description limited to 50 words.
  • Entrant’s name, phone number, email address, and the names and contact information for any co-creators, if applicable, are required on the entry form.
  • Entries limited to one art submission per person.
  • By submitting an entry, you are agreeing to provide the SOA with the right to publish, display, and reproduce your entry, in accordance with Section 7(b).

3. JUDGING

All entries received that follow the rules stated above will be displayed on the SOA website for the Speculative Art Expo. Members are invited to vote for the People’s Choice.

4. PRIZES

There will be up to three US$100 prizes for the People’s Choice. If the entry has more than one creator, the prize will be divided among the co-creators equally.

5. SUBMISSION RULES

Entries limited to one submission per person. No purchase necessary to enter. Entrant is verifying ownership of the story and compliance with the Official Rules. Any AI tools used in your entry shall be disclosed in writing and documented responsibly and appropriately. You are accountable for the originality of the content of your entry and for ensuring any AI-generated material have been disclosed to the SOA. Entries cannot infringe upon any third-party personal or proprietary rights. Any Entrant whose work contains elements not owned by the Entrant must be able to provide legal releases for such use, including Sponsors’ use, in a form satisfactory to the judges.

6. ELIGIBILITY

Contest open to legal residents of the United States of America and Canada (void in Quebec). All employees of Society of Actuaries ("Sponsor") or any of their contractors or agents (all of the foregoing, together with Sponsor collectively, "Contest Entities"), and their immediate family members, are ineligible to enter or win the Contest. All Entrants must be members or candidates of the SOA, and in the case of an entry with more than one creator, all Entrants must meet this requirement. This Contest is void in Puerto Rico and all other U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations. Sponsors reserve the right to verify eligibility qualifications. Entries received prior to or after the Entry Period are void. Void where prohibited by law.

7. PARTICIPANT OBLIGATIONS

  1. By entering, Entrants consent to the use of their legal name, entry , biographical information, photographs and/or likenesses for advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation (except where prohibited) by Sponsors for purposes concerning this Contest or succeeding contests and for publicity, special events and advertising purposes in connection with promoting the Society of Actuaries, the SOA’s Actuary of the Future Section, the SOA’s Emerging Topics Community, the SOA website and/or this Contest or succeeding contests.
  2. By entering, Entrants grant the Sponsors a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to publish, display, and reproduce their entry in any and all media, in whole or in part, throughout the world for any purpose including commercial purposes. Entrants hereby grant the Sponsors permission to format their entry for the Sponsors’ purposes at the Sponsors’ sole discretion.
  3. By entering, each Entrant agrees to defend, indemnify, release and hold harmless the Sponsors from and against any and all losses, demands, damages, rights, claims, injuries, actions and liabilities of any kind arising out of or related to Entrant's participation in the Contest. Any disputes that may arise hereunder shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to the conflicts of laws principles of any jurisdiction. Venue with respect to any such disputes shall be had in the state and federal courts of the State of Illinois. Sponsors' failure to enforce any term of these rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. In any cause of action, the Sponsors’ liability will be limited to two hundred dollars (US$200.00), and in no event shall the Sponsors be liable for attorneys' fees and/or experts' fees and costs. By participating in the Contest, each Entrant waives the right to claim any additional damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, incidental or indirect damages.

8. PERSONAL INFORMATION

Personal information submitted to enter the Contest will only be used in the event you win the Contest, if there is a question or issue regarding your entry or its content, and if there is an issue or news to communicate to you pertaining to the Contest. The personal information collected through this Contest is subject to Society of Actuaries' Privacy Policy, located at http://www.soa.org/legal/privacy-policy. By entering this Contest, you agree to the use of your personal information as described in the above Privacy Policy.

9. ADDITIONAL TERMS

By entering or participating in the Contest, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, the terms and conditions of the Contest Entities' websites, and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Sponsor is not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information or technical failures of any kind, or (2) any other computer, network, technical, human or other error, problem or malfunction that may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing of entries, or the selection or notification of winners. Further, if, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned for reasons outside the control of the Sponsor which, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, may corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest (or portion thereof), Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest (or portion thereof). In the event of such cancellation, termination, modification or suspension, Sponsor will select Prize Winner from all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to such action. Sponsor also reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify the Entry of any individual found to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or (b) violating these Official Rules or the terms of service, conditions of use, and/or general rules of any Sponsor property or service. Contest Entities are not responsible for claims, injuries, losses or damages of any kind resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the awarding, delivery, acceptance, use, misuse, possession, loss or misdirection of the prize; participation in this Contest or in any activity related thereto or from any interaction with Contest information. Contest Entities make no warranties, and hereby disclaim any and all warranties, express or implied, concerning any prize furnished in connection with this Contest. Entries not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification. Sponsors are not responsible for any unauthorized use of your entry by third parties.

10. WINNERS LIST

The People’s Choice winner(s) will be posted on the SOA website on or about May 1, 2025.

11. SPONSORS

The Sponsors of this Contest are Society of Actuaries’ Actuary of the Future Section, and Emerging Topics Community, 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave Suite 1000. Chicago Illinois 60631.