Toyota Dream Car Contest Open for Kids through Teens

Grace Sun with her Jellyfish Car

Protecting the environment and imagining a better world are prominent themes among many of the award-winning car designs in the Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest. The free contest opens this year in the United States on November 16, 2020, accepting artwork submissions from U.S. youth, ages 4-15, until January 31, 2021. Details (official rules, artwork guidelines, entry form, teacher lesson plan) are available at www.ToyotaDreamCarUSA.com.

Two sisters – Grace and Lynn Sun – were among last year’s U.S. Winners of the Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest. Each girl each took an artistic approach to their drawings unique to their interests, guided by contrasting realms and even using different medium. “Because I love to read fantasy and fiction stories, my dream car design included imaginary objects and landscapes,” said nine-year-old Grace, an aspiring writer and illustrator who drew The Jellyfish Car. In comparison, eleven-year-old Lynn who drew The Eco Car shared that her “designs are inspired by many everyday objects – mainly, any object with unique features.” Her dream career is to be a designer someday.

eam career is to be a designer someday.

Each year, the Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest sends out a call for artwork submissions, which are received and entered into one of three categories – Category 1 (4-7 years); Category 2 (8-11 years); and Category 3 (12-15 years). Judging takes place within each age group to choose the best in terms of uniqueness of concept, artistry of concept, and execution of concept.

Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan held the first worldwide contest in 2004. Nearly 90 countries now host their own national contests under the same rules but with varying artwork submission periods. To learn more about the world contest, visit www.Toyota-DreamCarArt.com.  For a full list of U.S. winners, U.S. finalists, and U.S. semi-finalists for last year’s Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest organized by state and award level, click here.