Young artists competition promotes Sister Cities

21 February 2007

An Open and Accessible World for All is the theme for this year’s Christchurch Sister Cities Young Artists Competition.

Open to young artists aged 13 to 18, the competition is designed to promote the Sister Cities programme and international friendships, while raising cultural awareness and promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding and co-operation.

Organised by International Christchurch Youth and supported by Christchurch City Council, work by this year’s best artists will be exhibited at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu from 20 March to 15 April.

Gallery Director Jenny Harper says that it will be interesting and exciting to see art produced by the up-and-coming generation in this context and the Gallery looks forward to making this work available to the public before judging.

Event organiser Suzy Garrett says the winning artwork will be sent to the International Young Artists Showcase 2007 in Washington DC, from which the works of the 10 global finalists will tour the United States.

“This is an incredible honour as Erin Jackson from St Margaret’s College has discovered as winner of Christchurch’s 2006 competition. Her work, Global Citizenship – More than a Badge was chosen as one of the 10 world finalists and is currently touring the States.”

Christchurch’s 2005 winner, Melissa Gray, also from St Margaret’s, had her artwork, Dreaming the Thoughts of Others, chosen for the cover of last year’s Sister Cities International Showcase of Young Artists brochure.

Entries for this year’s event close on Thursday, 15 March. For further information on the art competition visit the website www.christchurch.org.nz/sistercities or phone the City Council on 03 941 8999 for a brochure.

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