Olympics Art Competition for young people

Children across Norfolk are being given the chance to take part in an Olympics inspired competition that could see their work displayed at a city art gallery.

Norfolk County Council is organising the London 2012 art competition, which will see winning works displayed at Norwich’s Castle Museum.

The competition is open to all children and young people in the county and those successful in each category will also win an artist for a day, who will visit their school. Selected pieces will also be displayed in the county’s mobile libraries.

There are three categories, broken down into each school key stage. They are:

* Works that represents one of the Olympic and Paralympic values (excellence, friendship, respect, courage, determination, quality and inspiration).

* Works that represent an Olympian or Paralympian, past or present.

* Works on the theme of the Olympic torch relay, which is scheduled to pass through Norfolk.

Children and young people can enter art in any media, as long as it is two-dimensional and in A4, A3 or A2.

The competition closes on Friday 22 March 2012 and judging will be done by staff from Norfolk County Council’s Children’s and Community Services departments and Joseph Ballard from the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

The winners in each category will have their work displayed at the Castle’s Art Gallery in the summer term, ahead of the opening of the London Olympics.

Alison Thomas, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Norfolk County Council, said: “This competition gives children and young people across the county the opportunity to have their work displayed in a public art gallery, meaning they will be seen by visitors from across the county, country and even overseas. It also gives schools and their pupils a chance to capture the spirit of the Games, think about its history, its purpose and the significance of having such a high profile event in their home nation.

“We are keen for schools to use the many educational opportunities the Olympic and Paralympic Games present across the curriculum, whether it is sport, art, maths, English or citizenship. The values of the Games are attributes we should all aspire to and qualities that we want to see in all of Norfolk’s children and young people. We hope that schools will embrace this competition and would urge as many young people as possible to take part.”

For further information, or to request an entry form, contact Anna McCarthy, Creative Projects Officer for Norfolk County Council, on 01603 638099 or anna.mccarthy@norfolk.gov.uk