Budding young artists have been hard at work to create their masterpieces for this year’s peace poster contest hosted by Amanzimtoti and Kingsburgh Lions clubs.
The contest has been running for some 29 years and is gaining in popularity internationally.
“It is a contest that encourages children aged from 11 to 13-years-old to think of creative ways to express their ideas of what peace means to them,” said peace poster convener, Moira Rigby.
“In this world where there is so much violence and lack of peace, where we need greater tolerance and international understanding, it is good to give young people an opportunity to sit back, think about peace and discuss the true meaning of it, and express their ideas through the medium of art.”
The international theme this year is ‘A Celebration of Peace’.
The two local clubs have for the last few years worked together to promote this contest.
“The judging of the 12 to 15 posters we choose as finalists will be done by three artists from the Upper South Coast Art Association. They are Patricia McCann, Jill Knight and Maureen Babcock.
The 20 finalists have been chosen and judging takes place at St Mary’s church hall in Warner Beach on Wednesday evening, 19 October.
The top two posters, one to represent each club, will go forward to the next level of judging, which takes place at our mid-year conference at the beginning of November,” said Moira.
There are handsome prizes to be won at all levels of judging, culminating in the international grand prize of US$5,000 (or local equivalent) and a trip to the USA to attend the awards ceremony, for the winner, two family members (one being a parent or guardian) and a member of the sponsoring club.
In addition, 23 merit winners will receive US$500 (or local equivalent) each.
