Colorforms® Announces 60th Anniversary Fine Arts Camp Contest

SAN FRANCISCO, April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Colorforms®, one of the longest-standing brand names in the American toy market and a division of University Games, today announces a kid's fine arts contest celebrating the brand's 60th anniversary year.  

What began as an offbeat idea for creative expression of art students Harry and Patricia Kislevitz in their bathroom quickly became a playful, imaginative medium for children of all ages to harness their creativity and build language and problem-solving skills.   From the discovery that their roll of flexible vinyl material would stick to semigloss surfaces, the Kislevitzes created a play set featuring basic geometric shapes in bright, primary colors.  

"For sixty years, Colorforms has inspired creative, open-ended play rooted in colors and shapes and this contest celebrates the artist roots of the brand," says Bob Moog, University Games, president. "This contest is about celebrating and encouraging a lifelong passion for the arts."  

Running from April 1 through September 15, the contest is designed for kids, ages 3-12. There are few limits on the contest, other than the art is no bigger than 30" x 40" and not heavier than 5 lbs, for the sake of contest logistics.

One of three arts camp scholarships will be awarded to the contest winners, along with a collection of Colorforms products to a winner in each age group.  There will also be a special $500 US Treasury bond prize for the best use of Colorforms Stick-Ons™ as an art medium.  

For the 9-12 year old age group, the camp scholarship includes tuition at a nationally renown fine arts camp, including travel expenses.  For the winners under age 9, a day camp scholarship will be awarded for use in the winner's hometown.  

Families can learn more about the contest at www.facebook.com/colorforms or at www.ugames.com/colorforms/ArtCampContest.asp

About Colorforms

Founded in 1951, Colorforms is one of the oldest and best-known brands in the toy industry. It was the very first plastic-based creative toy, and one of the first toys ever advertised on television. Since its inception, more than 1 billion Colorforms play sets have been sold – a number that keeps growing every year. With more than 75 toy products in current distribution, Colorforms continues to build on time-honored creative play patterns that generations of children have experienced and remember fondly.

SOURCE Colorforms