BRUNSWICK

The 6th annual “Mid-coast Altered Couture Contest” will take place June 9 at the Fort Andross Event Center located at 14 Maine St., Brunswick. The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. And doors will open to the public at 5 p.m.

The Altered Couture Contest was created 6 years ago by Brunswick artist Christine Detroy with the intention of implementing a creative and fun challenge venue that would be open to all ages and all levels of skill. This year there will be 24 designers who will present garments they designed individually or as a team to present to a panel of judges and an audience of 250.

Each year the participants are given a challenge theme, and designers are encouraged to use recycled materials and sources and to think outside the box when putting together their creations.

Last year’s theme was “Enchantment and Fantasy,” and this year’s theme is “Color Couture.” Each designer or designing team has to choose one color with any number of related hues, or they can create a rainbow piece with multiple hues. Participants will also select a song that supports their design and personality that will play as the garment hits the runway.

A group of five locals will judge the contest. The judges this year are veteran turned-artist Terry Grasse, Executive and Artistic Director of St. Lawrence Arts Deirdre Nice, Gary Lawless of Gulf of Maine books, Owner and designer of “Botanical Soaps of Maine” Roben Booker, and Mark Fish, Owner Of Rainbow Upholstery. Judges will come dressed in the current year’s theme as well.

There will be four winners — two adults and two children. The prizes, in the form of gift certificates, are gleaned from a multitude of local business owners.

Among the participants in this year’s contest will be Seeds of Independence, with two teams of designers.

Other teams include Brunswick Junior High School and Spindleworks.

Proceeds benefit a Youth Arts based program yearly, with past beneficiaries including Art Van Brunswick and Portland Youth Dance. The 2016 proceeds recipient will be The Lewiston/Auburn Maine Folque Co-ops Young Fiddler’s Ensemble, who will give the audience a performance featuring their musical talents.

Tickets to view the contest are $12.50 and can be purchased in advance at Frontier Café, located in the Fort Andross Building or online at explorefrontier.com.