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Star Wars fans may have to wait until December to see The Force Awakens in theaters. But Lucasfilm and HP are encouraging creative-minded franchise enthusiasts to get excited—and inspired—early.
On August 11th the two tech leaders launched “Art Awakens,” a nationwide search for the country’s best Star Wars fan artists. Described as “an exciting new program for Star Wars fans old and new, across the country to revitalize creativity by ‘Bending the Rules’ of the Force, themed around a galaxy far, far away,” would-be participants have two months to submit their sci-fi-inspired work (Wookiee or otherwise) on ArtAwakens.com.
The competition culminates at a gallery not so far, far away—Los Angeles’ pop culture-obsessed Gallery 1988—for a three-day Star Wars: The Force Awakens exhibition in November that will feature work from a number of well-known veteran artists, plus five "Art Awakens" participants, whose submissions will be judged by a panel of art and design pros from Lucasfilm, Disney, Industrial Light & Magic, and beyond. Those same lucky winners will also have the opportunity to fly to L.A. to attend the exhibition’s opening.
All of the work will be auctioned off by Star Wars: Force for Change and benefit UNICEF Kid Power, which gives kids the power to help feed malnourished children from around the world. Who needs the Force when you’ve got the power of art behind you?