The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) invites makers of all ages to design and build original LEGO creations and display them at the museum for the 16th Annual LEGO Contest & Exhibit, which takes place Nov. 9 through 12. An awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 5:30 p.m. New this year is a special printmaking workshop featuring LEGOs as printing tools.

LEGO Contest Details

All LEGO contest entries must be delivered to BMAC on Monday, Nov. 6, between 4 and 6 p.m. An online entry form must be submitted before dropoff, including a $5 entry fee. Contest guidelines and entry forms are available at at brattleboromuseum.org. For more information or special requests, call BMAC at 802-257-0124, ext. 101.

Every entry submitted to the contest will be displayed at BMAC from Thursday, Nov. 9 through Sunday, Nov. 12, 10-4 daily. Admission to the museum is free, courtesy of M&T Bank.

Having showcased the talents of hundreds of LEGO artists of all ages every year since 2007, BMAC will again honor the creativity and craftsmanship of all contestants with an awards ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 5:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in seven age groups: preschool, grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, adults, and adult/child collaborations. Other prizes may be awarded at the judges’ discretion. Every contestant will receive a personalized certificate of participation.

According to BMAC Director Danny Lichtenfeld, memorable entries from the past 15 years include a working ATM and slot machine, a replica of Brattleboro’s Harris Hill Ski Jump, a grandfather clock, a ferris wheel, an assortment of mechanized marble runs, busts of Abraham Lincoln and Bernie Sanders, and more.

“What I love about this event is that it treats LEGOs with the same respect accorded to paintings and drawings created by accomplished artists,” said Ari Essunfeld, 22, a former contestant. “Every creation gets its own museum label, and for the four days that they’re on display, visitors to BMAC get to see LEGO robots, fantasy homes, and battle scenes displayed alongside the museum’s curated exhibits.”

This year’s printmaking workshop, presented in partnership with First Proof Press, on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m., takes LEGOs a step further. BMAC Manager of Education Programs Kate Milliken will guide participants through the process of designing and constructing a unique letterpress substrate, or a printing surface, with LEGOs. Each participant will use their own substrate to create letterpress cards and posters. The workshop takes place at First Proof Press, located at 183 Main Street in Brattleboro. No prior printmaking experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. Space is limited, so advance registration is required. Admission is $45, $30 for BMAC members. Register at brattleboromuseum.org. Participants between the ages of 6 and 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Brattleboro Museum & Art Center

Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. BMAC is open Wednesday-Sunday, 10-4. Admission is free, courtesy of M&T Bank. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org.

BMAC is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.