QUEENSLAND’S TOP VISUAL ARTS STUDENTS RECOGNISED

Fifty-three of Queensland’s most talented visual arts students received the highest accolade at the 2006 Education Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art today.

Presenting the awards at Parliament House, Minster for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts, Rod Welford, said the award winners were examples of the outstanding talent being nurtured in Queensland schools.

“Arts education helps to develop a range of skills for young people, such as creative problem solving and communication – necessary skills no matter what future careers they might undertake,” Mr Welford said.

“Highly developed visual arts skills can open doors to creative careers in fields such as architecture, advertising and film and television.

“These fields are part of the creative industries sector, a valuable component of Queensland’s economy that was worth $3.2 billion last year alone.”

More than 550 artworks were submitted this year by students from state and non-state schools across Queensland.

“Congratulations to the 53 students who received an Education Minister’s Award for Excellence in Art, and the six students selected for a Chroma Regional Encouragement Award,” Mr Welford said.

“As part of the awards, most of the students are undertaking an intensive five-day workshop this week that will introduce them to professional techniques and approaches widely used in contemporary art practice.

“Run by Flying Arts, a Queensland arts organisation committed to providing access to innovative visual arts experiences across the state, the workshop is designed to further develop the artistic abilities of the students.”

The Excellence Award-winning artworks will be exhibited at the Queensland Art Gallery from July next year before the exhibition tours regional art galleries across Queensland.

A list of the 2006 award recipients is below.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985

2006 EDUCATION MINISTER’S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN ART RECIPIENTS

Darling Downs - South West Queensland
James Cosh, Downlands College
Rebecca Geary, St Ursula 's College
Robbie Murphy, St Ursula's College
Harriet Nunan, Downlands College

Far North Queensland
Simon Stehben, Smithfield State High School
Kristal West, Trinity Bay State High School

Fitzroy Central West
Anne Lee, The Rockhampton Grammar School

Greater Brisbane
Louise Wruck, All Hallows' School
Lynn Wang, Brisbane Girls' Grammar School
Jason Ka Kit Chui, Brisbane Grammar School
Ian Knight, Brisbane Grammar School
Feng Qiu, Brisbane Grammar School
Tom Andrew, Brisbane State High School
Elly Bruce, Brisbane State High School
Paloma Cole, Brisbane State High School
Peter Lee, Brisbane State High School
Genevieve Reynolds, Cannon Hill Anglican College
Celia Elizabeth Fett Whittle, Cavendish Road State High School
Gemma Grima, Corinda State High School
Justiani Oei, Indooroopilly State High School
Nathan Hancox, Macgregor State High School
Kirsten McKenzie, Mansfield State High School
Tim Lee, Mt Gravatt State High School, CARE
Laura Hansen, Mount St Michael's College (Ashgrove)
Sarah Regan, Runcorn State High School
Priscilla Choi, Somerville House
Sally Frend, Somerville House
Ria Tierney, Somerville House
Joyce Yang, St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School
Christopher Hampson, St Laurence's College (South Brisbane)
Bianca Bosso, St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School
So Moon, St Paul's School (Bald Hills)
Amos Wang, Yeronga State High School

Mackay
Adam Robb, St Patrick 's College (Mackay)
Laura Bourke, Mackay North State High School

Moreton
Jennifer Hall, Boonah State High School
Simon Peterson, Westside Christian College
Elliot Harvie, West Moreton Anglican College

North Queensland
Sheree Broom, The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James (Townsville)

South Coast
Caylie Cummins, Marymount College
Annika Salisbury, Tamborine Mountain State High School
Jade Sleight, Pacific Pines State High School
Ashleigh Wadman, All Saints Anglican School
Kristen Window, Robina State High School

Sunshine Coast
Leah Atkinson, Burnside State High School
Rosy Feely, Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Richard Harris, Mountain Creek State High School
Ben Holmes, Sunshine Beach State High School
Sarah Horton, Coolum State High School
Lyndsay Scafe, Coolum State High School
Adric Watson, Maleny State High School

Wide Bay
Zoe Johansen, Maryborough State High School
Brigette Daniel, Shalom College, Bundaberg

2006 CHROMA REGIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT AWARDS RECIPIENTS

Jessica Davies, The Cathedral College, Rockhampton
Michaela Lobb, Fairholme College (Toowoomba)
Libby Steel, Isis District State High School
Daniel Gouge, Cairns State High School
Aaron Ashley, Townsville State High School
Anna Carlson, Mackay State High School