11th Annual Doodad Repurposed Sculpture Competition

 

Since 2012, the Annual DooDad Repurposed Sculpture Competition has inspired students to create imaginative sculptures along a theme while repurposing common objects, or “doodads”.  The competition is organized by Tampa Regional Artists.

Open to K-12 students attending public, private, charter and home schools in Hillsborough County, the competition challenges students to think beyond traditional art materials.   The competition is unique in that it focuses on three-dimensional art, increases awareness about the importance of recycling, and awards over $5,750 in cash prizes. The goals for the competition are to enhance students’ confidence, creativity and self-esteem, leading to a long-term appreciation and love of art and building skills that they will use in whatever career they eventually have.  Organizers are passionately focused on involving students across Hillsborough County.  The all-volunteer Doodad Committee, part of Tampa Regional Artists, collaborates with local organizations and generous sponsors in order to organize this annual competition. Since 2012, over 1100 sculptures have been created by over 3,350 students with over $42,000 awarded.

 The 11th DooDad Repurposed Sculpture Competition will be hosted by the Florida State Fair. Students will submit images of their sculptures and a 1-minute video artist statement onto an online site.  All sculptures submitted will be available to view on the Competition website, and will voted on by the general public for peoples’ choice awards.  A panel of judges will select the best sculptures, which will to be exhibited at the Florida State Fair.  Thousands of visitors will have the opportunity to view these works at Florida Center during the Florida State Fair, February 6-17, 2025. The students will also participate in an awards reception on February 5, 2025. The award winning sculptures will then be exhibited at Gasparilla Festival of the Arts March 1-2, 2025.

Long-time sponsor The Frank E. Duckwall Foundation will again be a sponsor for this year’s competition, along with Amalie Oil and the Northern Trust. The DooDad team is actively working to identify additional sponsors.

2024-2025 Competition

The theme for the 2024-2025 Competition is Water.  As a peninsula surrounded by the ocean and gulf, with beaches, bays and estuaries, covered with lakes, rivers, streams, springs and swamps, water defines Florida. Throughout most of its history Florida was under water. Skeletons of coral, shellfish, and fish piled up on the sea floor over millions of years to create the foundation of the landscape of the peninsula.

The doodads for this year’s competition are Fabric and Household Cardboard Boxes, one of which must be a Delivery Box.

Want to Help?

Organizing such an impactful competition requires a team of Volunteers.  The DooDad Committee is looking for volunteers to help in the following areas, among others. If you are interested, contact Kathy Durdin at kathydurdin@gmail.com.

 Fall 2024

  • ·Teacher and Student Outreach – The objective of the Competition is to involve as many Hillsborough County students as possible.  Outreach to Hillsborough County Public School teachers is underway.  We also need to reach out to other students:

    • Private, charter, parochial school teachers

    • Homeschool student teachers and parents

    • Organizations such as Girl Scouts, Scouts, 4-H, Boys and Girls Clubs, etc.

  • Communication – The committee will be promoting the Competition on Social Media.  Help is needed with Social Media and also monitoring the DooDad Competition email.

  • ·Fund-raising & Sponsorships – The Competition has a number of long time sponsors, and is always looking for additional Sponsorships.

  • Organizational Outreach – As the Competition emphasizes the environment, there are many organizations with natural connections to the theme of the Competition.  We need volunteers to help with the outreach and connection to these organizations.  In the past, we have highlighted those organizations on the DooDad website and integrated them as appropriate in our programming.

Winter 2025

  • Receiving and Installation – January 31 and February 1, at the Florida State Fair

  • Reception – February 5

  • Docents at the Florida State Fair – February 6-17

  • Pick up and Transport to Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, including Installation – February 19 and February 27

  • Docents at Gasparilla Festival of the Arts – March 1& 2

  For more information on the 11th Annual Competition, the Competition Guidelines, and information, images and catalogues from the past competition, please see our website, https://doodadoftampa.org.