Way-Cool Creativity Contest

The Way Cool Creativity Contest is Back! 

Planning on visiting one of the 2,000 museums across the country that offered military families like yours free admission as a thank you for serving your country? Awesomundo! 

After you soak up all the culture and creativity, you can unleash it and WIN prizes and glory! OK, maybe not glory, but you will have a chance to win uber cool prizes. Not bad, right? Here's the scoop:

Create an image or record a 3- to 5-minute video inspired by you or your family's visit to a Blue Star Museum and upload it here. Everything from photographs, sculptures, paintings, to grossology and that giant heart that you can walk through can inspire your contest entry! 

There are two categories to choose from: (1) artwork or video short (no more than one minute max!) inspired by your visit to a Blue Star Museum or (2) artwork or video short (ditto on the length) that expresses thanks to the art community who made the program possible.

Entries will be judged based on their overall appeal, quality, creativity and incorporation of the Blue Star Museums star (see logo at left) in the artwork or video. But don't wait until the end to submit your masterpiece! Get going on it asap. Voting takes place online beginning September 3. 

Entries will be grouped by: Ages 6-12; Ages 13-17

Winners receive – ready for this? – First place winners score either a $500 savings bond or a GoPro HERO3: Black Edition by GoPro with a GoPro Suction cup mount and head strap mount. Second place winners choose between a $250 savings bond or a Kindle Fire HD 8.9”. And for third place, an Nikon COOLPIX L26 or $100 savings bond. If you win, you GET TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A SAVINGS BOND OR A WAY-COOL PRIZE. 

Prizes will be awarded per age category. There will be one overall first place winner. There will be second and third place winners from each category. All kids who enter will be awarded a Blue Star Families t-shirt.

When you submit  a creative piece for our contest, you'll automatically be entered for the chance to win Movie or Theatre Tickets for 8 to a local production near your home (these names will be drawn after the Blue Star Museum season ends. 

Boring Paragraph for Parents 

The contest is open to military children ages 6 to 17, currently residing in the United States. Who is a military child? Any child who has a parent or sibling (including step-parents and siblings) serving on active duty, in the Reserves or in the National Guard. Eligibility – child must possess an active duty, National Guard or Reserve military ID card or if under age, a parent’s military ID is sufficient. Winners must show proof of eligibility upon notification.

HOW TO ENTER CREATIVITY CONTEST: Upload your entry here

1. Creativity Contest: Have your entry to us no later than 11:59PM EST on 2 September, 2013.  Online voting will be 3 September, 2013 and ends 11:59PM on 20 September, 2013. Winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

Here’s the Way-Coolest Part

Entries to the Creativity Contest will be posted online by September 3, 2013, and Blue Star Family Members will get to vote for the winners in each age category.  

Check the contest rules here.

The Blue Star Museums program opens its doors across America on Memorial Day giving free admission to active duty military service members and up to 5 family members.  Over 2,000 museums and counting are giving military service members and their families the opportunity to enjoy a Day at the Museum!

Check out our interactive map now so YOU and your family can start planning your adventures!

Good luck!

Questions: Email questions to molly@bluestarfam.org. Tip: If you add CONTEST QUESTION in the subject, we can process your message faster.

Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families.