A NEW art and design competition is being launched to get young people in the borough thinking about their future and jobs or careers they might want to go into when they leave school.
Organised by South Essex College, the art competition is asking for pupils at Primary and Secondary Schools in the Thurrock area to submit a piece of art work in any medium, from paint to pastels or collage to crayon, under the title of ‘what I want to be when I grow up’.
Helen Henley, Events Executive School Liaison at South Essex College said: “There is no denying that the building of the new £45m, state-of-the-art, Thurrock Campus in the heart of Grays Town Centre is going to change learners’ lives for the better with a greater range of choice and a whole host of established and new vocational learning opportunities. What better way to get young people thinking about their futures than this competition.”
There are three age categories for the competition: 7 and under, 8 – 10 years, and 11 – 14 years and the winner of each category will receive a prize for them as individuals and a prize for their school.
Helen added: “Those aged 14 now will be amongst the first group of students able to study at the College’s brand new building when it opens in September 2014, so it’s really important to get them involved and engaged as the first generation of students in Thurrock and Grays who will be able to benefit from the new building and all it will have to offer.”
Arthur Bugler Infant School in Stanford-le-Hope is one school whose pupils already have their paint brushes and palettes at the ready with the entire school entering the under 7 category.
Art Co-ordinator at the school, Jan Todd said: “The theme of the art competition is a really good one and a great opportunity to bring all of the children together with the same activity. Over 160 of our pupils will be entering so hopefully we’ll win some supplies for our after school art club!”
The closing date for submissions is Friday 20th July; submissions can be in any medium but must be original and the student’s own work. Entries will be judged by a small panel of experts and an exhibition of the work will be held in autumn.
For more information on the competition or to download an entry form visit: www.SouthEssex.ac.uk/Competitions
