A call to British Columbian artists to create a poster representing Vancouver as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being criticised as an "unethical" request.

"I always advise my students not to participate in these types of competitions," said Marga Lopez, a graphic design lecturer in Vancouver.

This practice, known as "spec work," is widely viewed by many artists as unethical and exploitative.

"You wouldn't ask a lawyer to waive their fees and represent you for free. We need to ensure that people understand this is labour, this is work, and it needs to be compensated," Lopez continued.

The Association of Registered Graphic Designers strongly opposes spec work.

"No one wants to work for free, and usually those who can afford to work without payment are not representative of the broader pool of design talent in any given area," said Nicola Hamilton, the association's president.

The competition winner will receive $25,000, while four runners-up will each receive $1,500.

The artwork submitted must be entirely original, and artists must agree not to share their designs during the competition, which will officially conclude when the winner is announced sometime in 2025. Any breach of this confidentiality clause will result in disqualification.

The winner will also be required to sign an agreement transferring all rights to the design to FIFA, granting them "exclusive and perpetual rights" to its use, reproduction, and distribution.

According to the city's request for expressions of interest, the contest prize of $25,000 is the only payment the artist will receive.

"It's exploitative and unethical to ask for free design work from creatives without a guarantee of compensation. I also believe it devalues the profession as a whole by pitting us against each other in hopes of securing a paid opportunity," said Laura Prpich, a graphic designer at Caribou Creative.

According to the city, the decision was made by the FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver host committee. In a statement to CTV News, the committee stated that it recognises and values the contributions of local artists and will be addressing the concerns raised.