LAST October, Jamaican painter/graphic designer Michael Thompson and some of his colleagues came up with an idea to formulate a poster competition paying homage to the history of Jamaican pop music.

Two months later, the group launched the First International Reggae Poster Contest for which a winner will be named in early April. When he spoke with the Observer in January, Thompson said he and his six-member committee had received submissions from as far away as Australia.

“I’d say we’ve got about 70 posters so far, I hope the momentum will pick up in March,” said Thompson from his home in Easton, Pennsylvania.

The Kingston-born Thompson and his colleagues hope to field as many as 1,000 posters by the time entries close at the end of March. To date, most of the submissions have been depictions of reggae superstar Bob Marley.

Artistes from Australia, Belgium, Greece, Norway and Brazil have also submitted images of other reggae icons like dub master Augustus Pablo, music producers Duke Reid and Clement Dodd and deejay U Roy.

Thompson said historical value will be of great importance when the judges select the top three finishers.

“We didn’t set any directives or limitations for them but we want the artistes to portray the roots of the music,” he said.

A graduate of the Jamaica School of Art (now the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts), Thompson is a graphic designer by profession. Last year, he staged his Reggae Movement Exhibition in several European countries.

The other judges are from Canada, Denmark, Greece, Israel, Italy, Mexico, the United States and Venezuela. Following are prizes for the top three placings:

Winner

• Apple iPad 2 16 GB.

• Copy of the published Reggae Poster Contest 2012 catalogue.

• Tougher Than Tough: The Story Of Jamaican Music (four DVD Box Set).

• The Bob Marley and the Wailers: Live Forever. Box Set. Includes book, vinyl and CD.

• Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae – Hardcover Book.

• The Harder They Come: The Movie (DVD + CD).

• Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae DVD.

Second place:

• Copy of the published Reggae Poster Contest 2012 catalogue.

• Tougher Than Tough: The Story Of Jamaican Music (4 DVD Box Set).

• The Bob Marley and the Wailers Box Set. Includes book, vinyl and CD.

• Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae – Hardcover Book.

• The Harder They Come: The Movie (DVD + CD).

• Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae DVD.

Third place:

• Copy of the Reggae Poster Contest 2012 catalogue.

• Tougher Than Tough: The Story Of Jamaican Music (4 DVD Box Set).

• Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae – Hardcover Book.

• The Harder They Come: The Movie (DVD + CD).