What was initially promoted as an opportunity to support and create exposure for creatives, became a heated argument across social media channels.

The Kenyan restaurant chain went to social media to announce a new initiative dubbed #ARTofthecity. The contest is meant to give Kenyan creatives to showcase their artwork. According to Artcaffe, anyone that gets to win is guaranteed of getting some prizes. But the rewards part is clearly what did not sit well with a number of people.

Shame on you Artcaffe. No really, shame on you.
1 coffee a day for a year is Kes 91,250.
Offer that instead of a cup of coffee that no one needs. Also, you know the winner won’t be able to redeem everyday, that’s why you offered this.
Respect creatives, they deserve to be paid. pic.twitter.com/CBWrnrERZW

— Elayne (@ElayneOkaya) August 4, 2020

In return for “beautiful, funky, inspiring, stylish, stunning, and striking illustrations by Nairobians” the high-end restaurant chain stated it would reward the artist who designs the best piece of art with free daily coffee for a year, an internship, and exposure.

A majority of Kenyans of Twitter (KOT) were upset by that reward and immediately went into an overdrive trolling Artcaffe and trashing their ‘free daily coffee for a year’ gift.

Stop responding for a minute and understand where people are coming from. Replying with the same generic message isn’t going to solve the issue at hand. With the amount of money y’all make in a year paying for work done should be the bare minimum. Do Better.

— Eugene Ikua (@EugeneIkua) August 4, 2020

Yani bila shame! The amount of money brands pay to commission a design like this! They've decided that it hasn't been a tough enough year for Creatives. They're gonna pay them in coffee instead. I just don't get this kind of audacity.

— AJ Musira ?? (@ajmusira) August 4, 2020

The winner is already good 'thats why they won…ahem! So how does an internship with your design team help them? Why cant the same design team come up with the logos..?

— Engels JO (@EngelsJO) August 5, 2020

After several complaints regarding the prizes offered, ArtCaffe changed its terms by offering a monetary incentive. In its place it offered.

BEST DESIGN WILL WIN:

1. A paid internship with the Artcaffe Design Team for 2 months
2. 100,000 Ksh cash prize OR free daily coffee for a year at the artist’s choice
3. Exhibit and sell your art in one of our restaurants for 2 months
4. An artists profile on our website and posts on all social media platforms
5. Your unique artwork and your name will be the printed design on our take-away cups

BEST RUNNER-UP WILL WIN:

1. 50,000 Ksh cash prize OR free daily coffee for 6 months at the artist’s choice
2. An artists profile on our website and posts on all social media platforms
3. Your unique artwork and your name will be the printed design on our takeaway cups

SECOND RUNNER-UP WILL WIN:

1. 30,000 Ksh cash prize OR free daily coffee for 3 months at the artist’s choice
2. An artists profile on our website and posts on all social media platforms
3. Your unique artwork and your name will be the printed design on our takeaway cups

Is this still good enough, however?

Many creatives still felt that there was a lot more ArtCaffe could do for its winners, while some felt that it was an improvement. You can’t make everyone happy, and many felt that ArtCaffe did not have the right motives or intentions.

This is good…. However, APOLOGIZE to the artist community. It's like you people only changed this because of public outcry and not because you did something wrong.

— jo_lanji2. 0 (@LOgwalla) August 5, 2020