Welcome!
Coordinators of the 10th Annual Repurposed Doodad Sculpture Competition are excited to announce this year’s competition will be held both in person at the Florida State Fair and virtually! This unique competition focuses on three-dimensional art and challenges young people to reuse unconventional art materials in response to an environmentally conscious theme. It is free to enter, and all sculptures are accepted into the contest as long as they adhere to the theme and guidelines, and are uploaded by December 15, 2023. Be sure to read all contest guidelines.
Kindergarten through 12th grade students enrolled in public, charter, private, and home schools located within Hillsborough County, Florida are eligible to participate. The all-volunteer Doodad Committee, part of nonprofit Tampa Regional Artists, collaborates with local organizations and generous sponsors in order to organize this annual competition. Since 2012, 922 sculptures have been created by over 3,100 students with almost $32,000 awarded.
Theme & Doodad
This years Theme: Florida Native Flora & Fauna
Research the Flora and Fauna native to our lovely state of Florida. Consider how Flora and Fauna are important within our ecosystem, how human activity adversely affects them, and what actions can be taken to increase habitat. Then, creatively problem-solve how to design and build a sculpture using this year’s Doodad material, Award Ribbons and Plastics. Finally, students record short, videos of their artist statements to upload along with images of their sculptures.
Important Links
- Click to enter: Our online Contest platform, Artful Evaluation.
- Please CLICK HERE FOR COMPETITION GUIDELINES. Thanks!
- VISUAL ARTS STANDARDS aligned to the 2023 DooDad Competition
- We adopted the COPYRIGHT AND PLAGIARISM GUIDELINES from the Scholastic Art and Writing awards.
- By Entering the 10th Annual Doodad Competition you agree to follow the TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors!
2023 presenting sponsor
Materials Sponsor
Facilities + Materials sponsor
10th Annual Repurposed Doodad Sculpture Competition Guidelines
Celebrating 10 Years of Doodads!
WELCOME!
Kindergarten through 12th grade students enrolled in public, charter, private, and home schools located within Hillsborough County are eligible to participate. This unique competition focuses on 3-dimensional art and challenges young people to reuse unconventional art materials in response to an environmentally conscious theme. The all-volunteer Doodad Committee, part of nonprofit Tampa Regional Artists, collaborates with local organizations and generous sponsors in order to organize this annual competition. Since 2012, 1,030 sculptures have been created by over 3,200 students with almost $35,375 awarded.
This year, the competition will have both online and in person elements. All sculptures that are entered in the competition will be included on the online Doodad website and will be included in the People’s Choice balloting. Due to size limitations, only a limited number of sculptures will be included in the in person exhibit at the Florida State Fair.
The Doodads for this year will be Award Ribbons from the State Fair and household plastic. The Award Ribbons will be available to teachers in the Hillsborough County School System at the Art Teacher in service day on August 4, as well as through other means that will be outlined on the Doodad website.
GUIDELINES
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ACCEPTED |
NOT ACCEPTED |
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One or more Award ribbon (to be provided) and household plastic (milk or water jug, detergent jug, etc.) must be used.
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No Award ribbon (to be provided) and household plastic (milk or water jug, detergent jug, etc.) was used to create the sculpture. |
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Some part of the Award ribbon and household plastic material must remain visible and sculpture must be sturdy and stable. |
No part of award ribbon and household plastic material remains visible; the sculpture falls apart, and/or falls over. |
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Other materials may be used, but MOST of sculpture must be constructed with Award ribbons (to be provided) and household plastic (milk or water jug, detergent jug, etc.). |
Only a small part of sculpture is created with Award ribbon (to be provided) and household plastic (milk or water jug, detergent jug, etc.). |
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The sculpture must be freestanding or be able to be hung from the ceiling. The footprint of freestanding sculptures must be no more than 30” deep and 36” wide. Freestanding sculptures may be placed on a table or the floor. Freestanding sculptures must be no more than 50 lbs. Hanging sculptures must have an armature that can connect to framing wire to be hung from the ceiling and must be no more than 25 lbs. |
The sculpture is not freestanding or cannot be hung from the ceiling, is larger than the 30×36” if freestanding, is heavier than 50 lbs if freestanding or 25 lbs if hanging, and/or cannot be hung from the ceiling if designed to be hung. |
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Individual or group work may be submitted, and MAJORITY of design and construction must be completed by student(s). |
Majority of design and construction of sculpture completed by teacher or other adult(s). |
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Sculpture must relate to the theme and respects the adopted Copyright & Plagiarism guidelines*. |
Sculpture NOT relate to theme and/or disrespects adopted Copyright & Plagiarism guidelines*. |
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Artist statement MUST answer 1) How your sculpture represents your research about the theme? and/or 2) How has your thinking changed about the connection between creating with unconventional art materials and the environment? |
Artist statement doesn’t address either question, and/or only explains the process and procedures used to create the sculpture. |
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Entries and video artist statements must be uploaded using Doodad’s online competition platform. |
Online entry form was NOT completed for a submitted sculpture. |
There is no limit to the number of sculptures individual students or groups of students may enter. Sculptures that meet accepted guidelines are eligible to be judged for monetary awards and exhibited.
The Doodad Competition has adopted the Copyright and Plagiarism guidelines from the Scholastic & Writing Awards.
THEME & AWARD CATEGORIES
Theme—Florida Native Flora & Fauna
Research the Flora and Fauna native to our lovely state of Florida. Consider how Flora and Fauna are important within our ecosystem, how human activity adversely affects them, and what actions can be taken to increase habitat. Then, creatively problem-solve how to design and build a sculpture using this year’s Doodad material, Award Ribbons and Plastcs. Finally, students record short, videos of their artist statements to upload along with images of their sculptures.
Groups-
- Elementary: K-2
- Elementary: 3-5
- Middle: 6-8
- High: 9-12
- ESE : Middle + High
Awards-
Judge Awards—a panel of judges select sculptures for monetary awards in each grade category based on originality, unique use of the repurposed Doodad material, and adherence to the theme and guidelines.
People’s Choice Awards—the general public votes online for their favorite sculptures and sculptures that receive the most overall votes receive monetary awards.
TIMELINE
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December 15, 2023 |
 Deadline to upload sculpture images, entry information, and video artist statements Online Competition Platform: link to be release soon! |
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December 18, 2023 |
Begin online jurying |
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January 12, 2024 |
Jurying Announced – sculptures to be exhibited in person at the Florida State Fair. |
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February 2, 2024 |
Juried sculptures to be delivered to Florida State Fair |
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February 6 or 7, 2024 |
Awards reception |
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February 8-19, 2024 |
Juried sculptures on display at Florida State Fair. People’s choice balloting. |
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February 20-23, 2024 |
Pick up of in person sculptures. |
How to Get in touch:
Have a question? Have a comment? Interested in becoming a sponsor? Would you like to join the organizing committee and volunteer your time? Do you have an idea for a Doodad? Send us an email, and we’ll respond as soon as we can.