The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Facebook page announced a fantastic new artistic competition: The Treasures of Middle-earth Design Contest.  Open only to residents in the U.S. and Canada, this contest is for fan art and design related to “The Hobbit”, either the book, or the three films.  Entries will be judged by John Howe, Alan Lee, and Richard Taylor.  The guidelines state:

Entries should portray subjects from the world of The Hobbit. Entries can range from subjects that are central to The Hobbit’s story (such as Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins, Rivendell, Lake-town or Orcrist) to subjects that are less prominent (such as Thorin’s father Thrain, the people of Lake-town or the Mirkwood and Rivendell Elves).

If you’re a true fan and know some of the characters that are going to be in the new film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, you can design them, too! If it’s related to The Hobbit, it has a place in The Treasures of Middle-earth Design Contest! But be original and be creative! What does the world of The Hobbit look like to you.

There are four categories to which fans can submit original designs; Characters, Creatures, Weapons, and Locations.  A different set of prizes (summarized below) will be awarded for each category, so pay close attention to the official rules:

CREATURES CATEGORY (PRIZES BY WETA LIMITED)

Grand Prize Package consisting of one of each of the following items (ARV: USD $2,000.00/ CAD $2,020.17):

• A miniature replica model of Rivendell from The Lord of the Rings
• 1/6th scale miniature statue of Thorin Oakenshield from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• A signed limited edition Art Print from The Hobbit entitled “An Unexpected Journey” by Gus Hunter
• A prop replica of the Key to Erebor from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• A prop replica of Balin’s Red Sword from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• A prop replica of Bilbo’s Contract from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• A prop replica of Arwen’s Evenstar pendant from The Lord of the Rings
• A miniature statue of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings
• Weta Collectors Guide Book
• Weta T-shirt

(4) Runner-up Prizes consisting of (ARV: USD $250/CAD $252.52 each):

• 1/6th scale statue of Thorin Oakenshield from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

CHARACTERS CATEGORY (PRIZES BY SIDESHOW, INC.)

Grand Prize Package consisting of one of each of the following items (Total ARV: USD $1,339.98/CAD $1,353.52):

• “Dark Rider of Mordor” Premium Format statue from The Lord of the Rings
• A polystone statue of Gandalf the Grey from The Lord of the Rings
• A premium format statue of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings

(4) Runner-up Prizes consisting of (ARV: USD $224.99/CAD $227.27 each):

• A polystone statue of Legolas from The Lord of the Rings

WEAPONS CATEGORY (PRIZES BY UNITED CUTLERY CORPORATION)

(1) Grand Prize Package consisting of one of each of the following items (ARV: USD $1,919.00/CAD $1,938.42)

• A prop replica of Glamdring – The Sword of Gandalf the Grey
• A prop replica of Gandalf’s Staff from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• A prop replica of Orcrist –The Sword of Thorin Oakenshield
• A prop replica of Sting – The Sword of Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• A prop replica of the sword used by Kili the Dwarf from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• A prop replica of Gandalf’s White Staff from The Lord of the Rings
• A prop replica of Anduril Sword – The Sword of Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings

(4) Runner-up Prizes consisting of (ARV: USD $224.00/CAD $226.27 each)

• A prop replica of Sting – The Sword of Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

LOCATIONS CATEGORY (PRIZES BY VANDERSTELT STUDIO, INC.)

(1) Grand Prize Package* consisting of one of each of the following items (Total ARV: USD $2,270.00/CAD $2,292.98)

• Jerry Vanderstelt will paint a version of the winner’s landscape design
• A matching numbered set of The Lord of the Rings trilogy paintings
• A Giclee printing of the following characters from The Lord of the Rings films: Strider, Arwen, Ringwraith and Gandalf the Grey
• Two canvas Giclee paintings from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
  *All items signed and numbered

(4) Runner-up Prizes consisting of (ARV: USD $320.00/CAD $323.24 each)

• A lithograph set of The Lord of the Rings trilogy paintings and giclee print from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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Read the FAQ for advice on how to go about choosing which category to enter your artwork.  Remember you have until October 15, 2012 to submit entries!

So you say you are not artistically inclined, or not a resident of the U.S. or Canada?  You can still participate by rating the artwork which has been submitted.

Poking around the site also turns up some new designs from the movies, including: Galadriel, Bilbo, Bilbo with Sting, Gandalf, and a fragment of Bilbo’s contract (which is rather helpful to my own personal quest to further decipher this document).