Teen art from around world set to inspire

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ART CONTEST

Teen art from around world set to inspire at Royal Easter Show

Teen art from around the world is set to inspire visitors to the Royal Easter Show. Visitors will have the opportunity to view and purchase art by teenagers from around the world, thanks to an international art contest set up by good Samaritans here in New Zealand.

The inaugural International Student Art Contest, set up by the Rotary Club of Otorohanga, is open to high school students worldwide. Several hundred entries have been received from as far-flung places as Nepal, Mongolia, Romania, South Africa, Peru, Israel, Argentina, Jamaica, Turkey, Canada and the US, as well as from throughout New Zealand.

There are prizes for both international and national place-getters. First prize in both categories involves NZ $1,000 prize money and the opportunity to participate in a cross-cultural exchange. The international winner gets to visit and travel around New Zealand for three weeks. While the New Zealand winner gets to travel to the overseas winner’s hometown and country.

Rotary Club of Otorohanga member and contest curator Barry Marx says the aim of the project is to forge links between young people internationally and increase international and cultural awareness and understanding. The non-profit project also aims to raise funds to be used across various Rotary-funded child and youth charitable initiatives throughout the world.

Entrants must be under 19 years of age on 4 April 2007 and studying at high school level at some time during the past 12 months. Art works can be paint, ink, collage, painted ceramic or computer-generated. Home schooled, handicapped and hospitalised students are eligible to enter, and there are special allowances for any winner who would have difficulties travelling.

The winners will be announced at the official opening of the Royal Easter Show on Wednesday 4 April, and all entries will be on display and for sale at the Royal Easter Show, on from 5-9 April at the ASB Showgrounds, Auckland. The sale proceeds will be paid directly to the artists, less 25 percent that will go towards Rotary-funded child and youth charitable initiatives.

"The works are of an extremely high calibre and truly inspirational given the circumstances of some. All have a story and all are for sale, so this is a rare opportunity to purchase beautiful art while also doing good by helping fund Rotary youth initiatives around the world," says Barry.

For more information please contact Barry Marx: 021 626 090, art@oto-rotary.org, with full details at www.oto-rotary.org

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