Sophie from Dublin at the launch of Sightsavers' Junior Painter of the Year Awards
Steele Encourages Kids to Paint for Sightsavers
Steele Encourages Kids to Paint for Sightsavers Ireland - 6th September 2010
Today, Monday 6th September, renowned artist Helen Steele launched the Sightsavers Junior Painter of the Year Awards. The painting competition is designed to help children understand the importance of their own sight through the accessible medium of art. Helen Steele, who is an advocate of encouraging creativity in children, unveiled this year's competition theme as ‘Seeing This Makes Me Smile'.
Last year almost 2,500 students entered the inaugural competition and even more are expected to enter this year. The Awards are open to all primary school children in Ireland and prizes for students and teachers include Easons Gift Cards, the unique opportunity to enjoy an art class with Helen Steele and the chance for their artwork to appear at an exhibition in Airfield, Dundrum early next year and in the Irish Times Art in the Classroom supplement.
"Art gives children the opportunity to understand complicated themes like blindness in an accessible way and also allows children to express their own emotion so this competition is a fantastic way to encourage creativity in children. I think the inspirational theme ‘Seeing This Makes Me Smile' will excite children as they can paint anything that puts a smile on their face be it their mum or dad, a football hero, a wild animal or even Jedward! My painting is inspired by one of my children's drawings of our family as that makes me smile!" commented Helen Steele at the launch.
"These awards give us an opportunity to inform children about the importance of sight and to raise awareness of Sightsavers' work. 75% of worldwide blindness is avoidable and Sightsavers Ireland works through local partners in 15 countries in the developing world to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equality of opportunity for children and adults who are visually impaired," commented John Fleming, CEO of Sightsavers Ireland.
Alan Johnston, Group Marketing Manager, Easons said, "We're delighted to be able to support this competition for the second year running. This year's theme presents a wonderful opportunity for every child to reach into their inner creativity and really think about the things which bring joy into their lives."
The awards are supported by Easons, The Irish Times and Airfield. An entry pack on the Junior Painter of the Year Awards will be sent to every primary school principal in Ireland in the coming weeks. Further packs are available from Sightsavers by calling 01 663 7666; or emailing Sightsavers at schools@sightsavers.ie/juniorpainter. People can also find more information by logging onto www.sightsavers.ie or www.facebook.com/SightsaversIreland.
The deadline for entries is the 10th November 2010. There are four categories; Junior and Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd Class, 3rd and 4th Class, 5th and 6th Class. Each region (Leinster, Munster, Connaught/Ulster) will have a winner in each category. All 12 regional winners will receive Gift Cards from Easons, Eason Art Kits, passes to Airfield and have their paintings exhibited at Airfield in early 2010. All schools with winning pupils will also receive Easons Gift Cards to put towards art supplies or books. The four national category winners will be announced at the launch of the exhibition in Airfield, from which the overall winner will be selected. Helen Steele will visit the school of the overall winner in March and provide the winner and their entire class with a wonderful art class.
For an entry pack, activity pack or braille card please call Sightsavers on 01 663 7666.
