The Dream Car Art Contest is Toyota’s unique platform that encourages imagination and creativity amongst children aged 15 and under, encouraging them to look ahead and imagine how to build a better future.

The nine children from across Ireland were chosen as the Irish finalists at an official awards ceremony in Haughton House at Dublin Zoo. A panel of three judges, Oliver Whelan, Lecturer in Fine Art and Painting at NCAD, RTÉ presenter Blathnaid Treacy and Hannah Tormey, BA Fine Art, in Toyota Ireland had the difficult job of selecting three finalists in each category (Under 8 Years, 8-11 Years and 12-15 Years).

The talented finalists in each category are as follows;

Under 8 Years

1st Prize Filip Sajdyk (Age 7, from Dublin) – Fast Flying Car
2nd Prize Elizabeth Sadhbh Kennedy (Age 5, from Waterford) - The Chocolate Butterfly Imagination Dream Car
3rd Prize Katarzyna Krasowska (Age 8, from Galway) – Doggy Rainbow Car

8-11 Years

1st Prize Dylan Williams (Age 8, from Clare) – Fruit and Vegetable Car
2nd Prize Ashlyn Emily Keating (Age 9, from Galway) – Dream Car ‘Rubbishinator’
3rd Prize Emma Perez (Age 11, from Dublin) – Ocean Recyclet and Animal Rescue

12-15 Years

1st Prize Misaki Isla Parbrook (Age 14, from Cork) – Transdimentional Transportation
2nd Prize David John Garvey (Age 14, from Galway) – The Car of Instant Regrowth
3rd Prize Emma Urguhart (Age 15, from Galway) – The Refugee Rescuer

The nine Irish finalists will now go on to compete against international winners for Gold, Silver and Bronze in the global competition with a grand prize of a once-in-a lifetime trip to Japan in August 2017.

Ian Corbett, Marketing Manager, Toyota Ireland said;

“We are now in the 11th year of the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest. It’s inspiring to look through the entries year on year and see how children’s imaginations evolve with the times. At Toyota, we are passionate about initiatives that can make our world better and children are at the forefront of that positive change. This year, the entrants have outdone themselves with some amazing creations and we hope to see an Irish entry in the final in Japan.”

Judge, Blathnaid Treacy commented,

“I was astounded by the standard of work in the competition. It’s great that an initiative like this is available for children in Ireland and I wish all of the finalists the very best of luck in the next stage of the competition. It is great to see the work of talented young Irish showcased on an international level”.