K–12 students can submit original 3D artwork for display in new Child Advocacy Center, with winners earning prizes and recognition
A new creative opportunity is taking shape for students across Montgomery County, as Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center invites young artists to help bring color, meaning, and imagination into its newest space.
The nonprofit has announced a countywide student sculpture contest tied to the opening of its new Child Advocacy Center and Training Facility, encouraging students in grades K–12 to submit original three-dimensional artwork inspired by the theme “To Inspire & Foster Hope.” Organizers said the initiative is designed to give students a voice in shaping an environment centered on healing and support for children and families.
“This is about more than art on a shelf,” Mission Kids CEO of Services and Operations Leslie Slingsby said in the release. “It is about giving young people a chance to contribute to a space that represents care, compassion, and community.”
Students may work individually or as part of a class or group, with flexibility in both materials and style. Submissions can include sculptures made from clay, cardboard, wood, metal, Legos, recycled materials, or mixed media, as long as they are original, free-standing, and no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches. Instead of submitting physical pieces initially, students are asked to send photos or videos of their work for consideration.
Sixteen students will ultimately be selected as winners, each receiving a $100 gift card.
Their artwork will also be displayed inside the new facility, giving young creators a permanent place in a building designed to serve some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.
The deadline to submit entries is Sunday, March 29, with winners scheduled to be announced just days later on April 1. Officials expect strong participation from schools and families throughout the region, as the contest blends artistic expression with a meaningful community mission.
Mission Kids, a nonprofit child advocacy center serving Montgomery County, coordinates investigations into child abuse while providing support services in a child-focused setting. Leaders said incorporating student artwork into the new facility reflects the organization’s broader goal: building a space not only for services, but for connection, resilience, and hope.
Students, parents, and educators can find submission details and entry information at missionkidscac.org/artcontest or by contacting Carly Morris cmorris@missionkidscac.org.
ABOUT MISSION KIDS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER: Mission Kids is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization which offers a comprehensive, centrally-located, multidisciplinary team response to allegations of child abuse in a dedicated, child-friendly setting to achieve justice for child victims and promote their physical and mental well-being. Mission Kids provides neutral, fact-finding forensic interviews which are coordinated to avoid duplicative interviewing and support Montgomery County’s multidisciplinary team approach to child abuse investigation and intervention. Advancing the field of child advocacy, Mission Kids is a leader in prevention education, professional training, research, public policy work, and mentorship as we seek to ensure that the world is a safer and better place for all children.
