The Bridge of Joy sculptures have been part of the Navy Yard waterfront since August 2025. We are inviting neighbors and visitors to slow down, notice them again, and share what they see.
Photograph any Bridge of Joy sculpture and enter our community photo contest. Photos can be new or taken anytime since the artworks arrived.
Selected photographers will be featured in a local exhibition, and the grand prize winner will receive a bronze sculpture by Gillie and Marc.
How to participate
• Take a photo of any Bridge of Joy sculpture
• Post on Instagram from a public account
• Tag @navyyardgarden
• Use #bridgeofjoycontest
• Enter up to 5 photos
Deadline
February 17, 2026
Prizes
• Grand Prize: 12 inch bronze sculpture by Gillie and Marc
• Runners Up: Gillie and Marc coffee table book
• Finalists: 12 photographers featured in a local exhibition
Official Rules
Bridge of Joy Photo Contest Official Rules
1. Eligibility
This Contest is open to any amateur photographer age 18 or older and residing in Massachusetts, so long as the entrant and his/her entry meet the requirements of these rules (the “Official Rules”).
2. How to Enter
The Contest began on August 6, 2025, and the entry deadline is 11:59 pm, Eastern on February 17, 2026. To participate in the Contest, take a photo of one of the Bridge of Joy sculptures located around Charlestown. Then post your photo on Instagram, tag@navyyardgarden, and use @bridgeofjoycontest. Maximum five (5) entries per entrant. There must not be any borders, signatures or watermarks. Each entrant must be a single work of original material and created entirely the entrant.
If any person appears in the photo, the entrant is responsible for obtaining any and all releases and consent necessary to permit the use of the photo without compensation and in the manner set forth in these Official Rules. If any person appearing in any photo is under the age of majority in their state of residence, the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required on each release. Upon our request, each entrant must be prepared to provide, within seven (7) calendar days of receiving our request, a signed release from all persons who appear in the photo submitted, authorizing us and our community partners (the “Authorized Parties”) to reproduce, distribute, display such photo in any media. All releases must be in the form we require in our sole discretion. Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.
By entering the competition, you grant Navy Yard Garden & Art, Inc. and our community partners, a non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable license to publish images for any purpose. This includes but is not limited to: display on the Navy Yard Garden & Art, Inc. website and on the websites of community partners; on social media used by Navy Yard Garden & Art, Inc. and its supporters; for use in marketing and communication purposes and inclusion in an exhibition at a location to be decided.
3. Judging: Prize
During the first week of March, 2026, a panel of judges comprised of David Cabot, Barbara Ellen Mawn and Benjamin Lipjecki will evaluate each entry based on the following criteria: Creativity, Composition, Lighting and Photographic Quality.
Based on these criteria, the judges will select one (1) Grand Prize Winner, two runner ups and nine (9 ) entries from the remaining submissions.
Prize: The Grand Prize Winner will win a 12” bronze sculpture by Wildlife Wonder artists Gillie & Marc. The runners up will each receive a Gillie & Marc coffee book. All twelve (12) finalists will have the opportunity to their photos displayed in an art exhibition at a location to be determined.
4. Right to Cancel or Suspend; Disqualification
If the Contest cannot be conducted as originally planned for any reason, Navy Yard Garden & Art, Inc., in its sole discretion, reserves the right to cancel or modify the Contest, without liability.
Entrants who violate these Official Rules are subject to disqualification.
5. Issues of Law
This Contest and these Official Rules are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If any provision of these Official Rules shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law.
All Federal, state and local taxes relating to participation in this Contest or awarding of prizes are the responsibility of the entrants.