First Night Danbury 2011-12 Announces Button Design Contest

DANBURY — Organizers of First Night Danbury are preparing for the 22nd year of the city’s family friendly, alcohol free New Year’s Eve celebration. This year’s theme is “Looking Up & Moving Forward,” a nod to the festival’s history, its artistic and community regrowth, and to the Danbury Main Street Partnership, for which it serves as a year-end acknowledgement of the ongoing excitement of what is happening downtown.

This year, the First Night Danbury 2011-12 edition will return to the tradition of creating its buttons and advertising campaign using an original and thematic image created by a regional artist.

Contest rules are simple:

*Anyone may enter, from toddlers to seniors, living down the street or regionally, professional or recreational;

*The image must be original, eye catching, easily reproducible, reflect this year’s theme, and may be produced in any medium;

*Submissions must be 8½ by 11 inches only, on paper, canvas, cardboard, tin or other material;

*Artists should mark the back of submission with name, age (if under 18), address, phone and email contact;

*The artist may choose to include the words First Night Danbury 2011-2012 and/or Looking Up & Moving Forward, but it is not necessary;

*Submissions may be hand delivered or mailed (Do Not Bend) to First Night Danbury, CityCenter, 186 Main Street, Danbury CT 06810, no later than September 1, 2011; and

All submissions become the property of First Night Danbury and will be exhibited during this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration.

A jury of noted Danbury artists and officials will select this year’s button design, and the winner will be named from the stage at Taste of Danbury on Sunday, September 11. Besides the artist’s button design serving as the visual ambassador for First Night, the winning artist will receive a follow up media release and photo blast, and eight buttons to share with family and friends for the First Night Danbury 2011-12 celebration.

Contact CityCenter Danbury, at 203-792-1711, for additional information.