AADL sponsors a variety of contests for kids and teens. Each contest offers participants the opportunity to show off their creativity from writing to graffiti. Our annual contests include...

The LEGO Contest is for ages preschool through adults. This annual event happens every August. Participants build their projects at home and bring them to the Kensington Court Hotel on a designated date (address in link below) for judging. Prizes are awarded in the form of gift certificates and award ribbons during a large awards ceremony on the evening of the judging. The top three winners in each age category and the people's choice winners each get a custom made LEGO trophy too. For more information take a look at the rules and guidelines for the 2012 contest. Check out the list of winners from every contest and look at all the entries to the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 LEGO Contests.

The Annual "It's All Write!" Short Story Writing Contest includes generous prizes to be distributed among nine winners! The contest is open to students in grades 6-12. Submissions are accepted January through March (specific dates & details in the guidelines below). Writers submit an original short story to be judged by a panel of published authors. The Awards Ceremony is held at the Downtown Library in May. Check out the list of winners from 2013 and the past few years and read the winning stories from the 2008-2013 contests. To learn more, take a look at the 2013 contest rules and guidelines.

NEW! The Short Story Contest for Grades 3-5 will be accepting submissions April 15 through May 6, (with details in the guidelines below). All writers will be invited to a Short Story Celebration in June at the Downtown Library. The top three stories from each grade will be recognized and each writer will receive a certificate of participation. Award-winning local author Shutta Crum will be the guest speaker. To learn more, take a look at the contest rules and guidelines. Check out these writing resources for K-5.

The Graffiti Art Contest is held annually during the Ann Arbor Art Fairs for grades 6-12. All supplies, including paint and painting surfaces, are provided. Participants work on site within a structured time period. Judging occurs the same day and prizes are awarded in the form of gift certificates. All artwork will be displayed for one month at the Ann Arbor District Library. Check out the list of winners and look at all the artwork created for the 2008, 2009, and 2010 contests.

Be a part of AADL's Logo Remix Contest! Make your own video-animated "remix" of the AADL logo and enter it to win prizes! We'll host open workshops in early March with our computers and software available for you to get started building your entry! A few selected animations will be projected above AADL's activity area during the Ann Arbor FoolMoon event. Get the contest rules and guidelines starting Friday, February 22nd at aadl.org or have staff print them out for you. Here's a link to the AADL logo in PNG and JPEG formats.

The Manga Drawing Contest was for grades K-12. The library no longer hosts an annual Manga Drawing Contest. The last contest was in 2009. For more information on past contests see rules and guidelines. Check out the list of winners and look at all the drawings entered in the 2008 & 2009 contests.

The Make It Happen in Ann Arbor Photo Contest is new in 2010, but we hope to make it a yearly event! Kids and adults are invited to submit photos of what summertime in Ann Arbor means to them. The top photos in each age group will receive gift cards and bragging rights. All participants will have their work displayed in the exhibit area of the Downtown Library and on aadl.org. Take a look at the rules and guidelines for more information and start thinking about your picture of summer today!

Read the blog posts below for more information on upcoming and past contests....