Monster Fun Every Summer!

Unlock the power of a picture to tell a story

Create a comic with a monster as the star.

Win Studio 550 prizes

Find art. Make art. Discover Downtown.

Every summer, we make 100 red clay monsters and hide them downtown.

Studio 550 hopes that by putting art in the street people will find joy walking their city in search of the unexpected.

About the hunt:

There will be a MONSTER HUNTER’S MEETING at City Hall (by the Bookmobile) before the public hunt at 10:50AM. Find out what this is all about, see an example of what you’re looking for, get a free book, and meet the Monster Mama.
Youth Hunt (5yo and under) in the green space in front of the Center of NH by the DoubleTree Hotel at 700 Elm before the public hunt. Look for the flags! Starts at 10:30AM.
“Monster Medallions” will be hidden in lieu of the actual monsters for the public hunt. Trade in your medallion at Studio 550 on the day of the hunt to get your real monster. They will be hidden in public spaces on Elm Street from Studio 550 to Bridge St. in public places. They love public art!
Let the fun continue! From 10:45-1PM, Studio 550 will host a number of low-cost monster-themed activities at 550 Elm Street. In addition to Monster trade-in and entry into a Studio Gift Card raffle, you can also try the pottery wheel, make a craft house for your monster, make a plant habitat, Tie Dye Studio shirts and bags, and you can start designing your own comic. There will also be sidewalk chalk, bubbles and more!
Rainbow Monster: Anyone who finds the single rainbow monster automatically wins a free 1-day workshop at Studio 550.
Other businesses hosting specials for monster-friends 11-1pm:
1. Queen City Cupcakes: 790 Elm St, monster cupcake
2. Manchester City Library Bookmobile at City Hall Plaza

Create a comic about a monster and send it to us! Have fun! READ THE CONTEST INFO HERE.

Why comics/cartoons?: Studio 550 hopes creating comics infuses kids with the magical power to use a picture to tell a story! Through that process, the hope is that kids fall in love with art and storytelling.
What this is all about:
1. Kids can create the comic based on a monster they found at the Monster Hunt, or they can create a creature of their own.
2. While the story can be silly or serious, magical or real-life, color or black and white, judges will be looking for original creatures, creative thinking, attention to detail, and a solid story.
3. What does a monster do for fun? Do they ever have problems only their monster friends can help with? Or, are they the ones making mischief?
Rules:
1. Age Limit: Open to kids 16 and under
2. Deadline: September 29, 2026, 8PM
3. Cost: Free to enter, win prizes!
4. Jury: A representative of Studio 550 Art Center & Double Midnight Comics
5. Original work: All work must be the child’s original creation, no AI and no parent intervention.
6. Format: be at least 4 frames, fill an 8.5×11 paper, have a title and story
7. Submissions (preferred) original can be dropped off at Studio 550 Art Center at 550 Elm Street OR (digitally) to the studio email (see CONTEST INFO PDF) as clean well-lit PDFs or photographs. Originals will be requested for the winning comic exhibit.