Call For Entries In National Youth Art Competiton

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 21 September 2009

Call for Entries in National Youth Art Competiton

The organisers of an innovative art competition for youth, led by youth, are now calling for entries from around the country.

The Foundation for Youth Development’s (FYD) youth advisory group – Directionz – devised the event, a t-shirt design and photo competition, as a way to display positive youth development, contribution and participation.

The competition is open to all young people aged between five to 18 years and entries should embody the theme ‘young people living their dreams’.

FYD Programme Development Manager and Directionz co-ordinator, Victoria Hood, said: “Directionz is all about maximising youth potential and this competition aims to encourage young New Zealanders to positively and creatively express themselves through their drawings, photos and graphic designs.

“The advisory group, which is made up of a culturally diverse group of 12 young people from FYD’s Kiwi Can, Stars and Project K programmes, decided on the competition as one of its first major projects and have worked tirelessly to pull it together.”

Directionz member, Sophie Tew (aged 17), said that the group is focussed on highlighting positive youth contribution.

“We are committed to positive youth development and expression. Through this group I have been given the chance to connect with young people from all over Auckland and to stand out of my comfort zone and develop my leadership skills.”

All submissions received will be judged in four age groups: 5-8 year olds; 9-11 year olds; 12-15 year olds and; 16-18 year olds.

The panel of judges includes: Auckland Art Gallery Project Coordinator - Exhibitions, Judith Cooke; prominent New Zealand artist, Shane Hansen; mountaineer and co-founder of the Foundation for Youth Development, Graeme Dingle and; members of the Directionz group.

Finalists from each of the age groups will have their photo or t-shirt design displayed at an art exhibition at the Telstra Pacific Events Centre in Auckland from 30 November – 02 December.

A host of prizes including Canon prize packs are also on offer for winning entries.

Entries are being accepted until Tuesday 27 October. To find out more about the competition and how to submit a t-shirt design or photo, visit, www.fyd.org.nz/directionz.

ENDS

Foundation for Youth Development (FYD) …
…is a not-for-profit organisation founded by Graeme Dingle and Jo-anne Wilkinson and is a leader in the field of youth development in New Zealand with over 18,000 young people in its programmes. FYD provides young people from age 5 to 18 with the opportunity to build self-confidence, and learn valuable life skills by participating in unique development programmes. Current programmes include Kiwi Can, Stars, Project K and youth offender programmes. FYD has a strategy of sequencing programmes to ensure young people get maximum support from the time they start school, aged five, right through to being seniors in secondary school. www.fyd.org.nz

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