We’re excited to announce our 5th Annual San Benito County Cardboard Challenge. This free program is coordinated by San Benito County Arts Council as part of our Steam Initiative in partnership with the YMCA of San Benito County, Youth Alliance, and San Benito County Integrated Waste Management. Together, we’re encouraging residents of San Benito County to create cardboard creations to celebrate the power of creative play.
Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, our event has been adapted to adhere to CDC guidelines. This year’s celebrations will take place virtually and in designated at-school & afterschool programs at local school sites.
To participate virtually, community members are encouraged to create anything they can imagine out of cardboard! The only rule is that the cardboard should still be recyclable after it’s been transformed. Pencils, paper, markers, and small amounts of glue are ideal. Past projects have included an entire city, a stadium, a life-sized Steph Curry, and even a taco truck.
During the week of October 19th-23rd we’ll be highlighting celebrations happening county-wide. Show your creativity by sharing a photo of your cardboard creation via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using #sanbenitoarts. Submissions can also be made to heidi@sanbenitoarts.org. Shared images will be reposted on the San Benito County Arts Council’s social media channels.
More about the Global Cardboard Challenge
The Imagination Foundation, invites the world to participate each year, now 10 years running, in their Annual Global Cardboard Challenge. Inspired by the short film, ‘Caine’s Arcade,’ the Global Cardboard Challenge is a worldwide celebration of child creativity and the role communities can play in fostering it. Every September, kids are challenged to create and build out of cardboard, recycled materials, and imagination.
Then, on the first Saturday in October celebrating the anniversary of the flash mob that came out to make Caine’s day, communities come together and play. Since its launch, the Imagination Foundation’s Cardboard Challenge has engaged 1,933,105 participants in 80 countries and was named a Champion in LEGO Foundation’s ‘Re-imagine Learning’ Challenge. (See LEGO’s video on our work HERE.
For more on our Arts in Education Programs, visit our Arts Ed page HERE.
For more information on the San Benito County Cardboard Challenge, contact our Director of Arts Education, Amanda Chiado, at amandchiado@gmail.com.