Westport Arts Center presents its annual Toy Makers' Competition!
Do you love creating your own toys? Submit YOUR original toy designs! Click here to download the brochure.
About the Competition
The Westport Arts Center is seeking toy designs created by children ages 5-12 for its 4th annual Toy Makers Competition! Submit up to 3 concepts - interactive toys, action figures, games, or your own original creation. Be creative, playful, and use fantasy, humor, and your imagination.
About the Judges
Melissa & Doug Bernstein:
The founders of Melissa & Doug, an American manufacturer and purveyor of children’s educational toys, will thoughtfully select submissions. This dynamic and innovative couple started the company 25 years ago in the garage of Doug’s childhood home, which has grown into one of the world’s most respected and successful toy companies.
Joining Melissa Bernstein on the judges panel will be members of the community with notable success in business, art, and design.
Winners’ Presentation
3 finalists from each age group will be chosen to present their toy designs to 3 judges on Family Art Day, March 8. Each toy designer will describe their inspiration, how their toy works, and why it will be a successful toy. Children will present independently while parents and friends wait outside of the interview room. The judges will then select the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Participants at Family Art Day will also vote for their favorite design.
PRIZES!
Winners selected and announced at Family Art Day. Prizes will be awarded in three age groups: Ages 5-6, 7-9, and 10-12
1st place:
A private tour of the Melissa & Doug toy factory in Wilton
A scholarship to a WAC summer camp of your choice*
2nd & 3rd place:
• A toy gift basket, courtesy of Melissa & Doug.
Audience’s Choice Award:
• Gift certificate to Shake Shack and Shake Shack Backpack
*dates limited for age 5
Judges are looking for toy designs that are:
• Unique, original, and imaginative.
• Easy to use and understand.
• Fun to come back to again and again.
• Able to be recreated and produced in real life.
• Descriptive in how the toy works, functions, or interacts.
Eligibility & Guidelines:
• Children ages 5-12 are eligible to submit .
• Submissions must be created on 8.5x11” paper.
• 3D creations must be photographed and printed on 8.5x11” paper.
• Descriptions can be attached to the back of designs.
• All participants must have parental consent.
• Finalists must be present on March 8.
How to Submit
• Submissions are due by 5pm on February 24
• Entry fee: $10 per child
• Mail the entry form and up to 3 artworks per child to:
Toy Makers Competition
Westport Arts Center
51 Riverside Avenue
Westport, CT 06880
• For more information, contact Education Manager, Lindsay Heffernan, at 203.222.7070.
Notification
• Finalists will be notified on March 4.
• The winning Toy Makers announced at Family Art Day, Sunday, March 8, 11am - 1pm.
• All winners will be posted on www.westportartscenter.org
Copyright
• All digital concepts submitted are owned by the toy maker (child).
• By submitting to the contest, you allow WAC to use the work for promotional and publicity materials.
• Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be sold or redeemed for cash or WAC credit.