STUDENTS HONOURED FOR EXCELLENCE IN ART

The annual exhibition of the Education Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art will open at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) next week, showcasing the high standard of artwork being produced by senior visual art students in Queensland schools.

The exhibition, to be held from 23 June to 23 September, will feature the works of 53 students who received Education Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art for works they produced last year for their final Year 12 assessment.

Minister for Education, Training and Minister for the Arts Rod Welford said the exhibition included digital new media, paintings, sculptures, installation and photographic works selected from nearly 600 entries from across the state.

“The awards represent the highest calibre of student artwork from Queensland’s major centres, regional districts and remote communities,” Mr Welford said.

“These works reflect aspects of contemporary youth culture and issues that are important to young people.

“As well as encouraging the creative talents of Queensland’s youth, the awards provide an opportunity to access the diversity and quality of art produced in Queensland’s secondary schools.”

The exhibiting artists attended a five-day workshop in Brisbane last September, where they worked with professional artists to further develop their artistic abilities.

A video documentary, featuring interviews with the artists during the workshop, will be screened at the exhibition.

From October, the works will tour Queensland regional galleries for 12 months, stopping first at the Mount Isa Civic Centre and then the Tanks Art Centre in Cairns.

Submissions for the Education Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art 2007 program close on Friday 20 July. All state and non-state schools offering visual arts in Queensland are encouraged to submit up to four student pieces.

The Education Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art have been held annually since 1990.

The launch for this year’s exhibition will be held on Thursday 21 June.

Media Contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000 or 0417 791 336