About 2017 Art Competition
Each year our Management Team selects a 'theme' that reflects children issues.
The theme is matched and linked to established personalities who we invite to judge the entries and select winners, whose artwork is then incorporated into our annual calendars. We are currently in our seventh year of the competition, previous themes have been:
1. Environment
2. Health and Fitness
3. Anti-Bullying
4. Ideas and Inventions
5. Olympics Legacy
6. Fostering
7. Art, Media and Fame
8. Charity -- Supporting the Vulnerable.
20I6 theme – EDUCATION
The objective of this year’s theme is to get the children thinking about how important education is and the difference it makes to our lives , we also encouraged them to think about what people who are less fortunate than ourselves around the world go through in life to get Education and what their lives are without Education the children were also asked to research what some of our famous leaders have said about Education that leads and inspires us to think of ways of how we can support those that are less fortunate than us and give them an opportunity to have a better future.
In their art work, we wanted them to give messages of what they thought it was like to be poor, deprived from educational opportunities and how they would help them.
PARTICIPANTS
Long Close School Children from years 3 to year 10
We are delighted to be able to work with the Long Close School and to have the support of Mr Pavey, Head Teacher, Gavin Larcombe, Head of Art and all the staff, who generously donate their time, effort and resources to support this Art Competition.
The school was established in 1940, originally as a boys' boarding school. Long Close has evolved into a co-educational day school, for pupils aged 2 16 years, with a well established reputation for friendliness and achievement.
Occupying a large and attractive site, Long Close admits children into Little Close Nursery through to preparing pupils in the Prep School for 11+ entrance to grammar schools and for GCSE examinations in the Senior School.
The school aims to provide every child with the best opportunity of transferring successfully to the next stage of his or her education and endeavours to support each child by maintaining a happy, caring and friendly family atmosphere. Staff give independent attention and guidance in small classes, by providing stimulating environment that encourages the pursuit of high standards and nurtures all the facets of the pupil's education.
The school is dedicated to achieving outstanding results by employing teachers who prepare each child for the demands and challenges of the outside world, by providing opportunities to grow in confidence, self-reliance, self-discipline, responsibility and consideration for others. It is very keen to cultivate and broaden the interests of each child through exposure to a remarkable variety of learning experiences, which include music, drama, sport and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
Foster children from the Local Authorities (Looked after children)
Some of our children have special needs, health and developmental concerns. They may also present with emotional or behavioural challenges. However, regardless of individual circumstances, all our children and young people are encouraged to take part and showcase their talents.
Children Whose Families Foster
We feel that it is important that every child is treated equally, therefore, we invite all children to take part in the Art Competition and gain recognition for their specific contribution, including those whose parents foster, as they have developed remarkable insights into various life situations by virtue of their unique position as members of the fostering household.
Last year’s theme was ` Charity` Supporting the Vulnerable.
Our theme last year was on Charity, Supporting the Vulnerable we matched the theme to Amir Khan who is a British professional boxer and two-time former world champion.
Amir is also heavily involved in charity work; his AK Foundation works with Penny Appeal to make a difference to the lives of orphans by giving them an opportunity for a better future.
When Amir Khan was invited to Judge this competition, and was told about the theme, he jumped with delight and agreed in seconds to judge it - stating that he couldn’t do anything better than judging an Art Competition with a theme of charity. He said he couldn’t wait to see what the children’s thought on this would be on something so close to his heart.
20 entries were chosen, each one giving a message that would open up the hearts and minds of anyone who saw these, and encourage them to step forward, hold hands and join each other in our aim to create a difference to the world we live in. A world without poverty.
This year’s Judge Aleema Khan
This year’s judge is Aleema Khan, Aleema is the sister of World Famous Cricketer and Politian.
Following the success of the world-famous hospital built in Pakistan, Shaukat Khanum. Aleema is heavily involved in supporting her Brother in a project which is to build upon the existing Namal College a centre of knowledge in Pakistan, the project has been named ` Namal Knowledge City `,
Namal knowledge city is one of the most ambitious education projects aimed to deliver academic excellence to the youth of Pakistan.
Many countries across the globe have realized that their progress depends on creation and dissemination of knowledge.
Knowledgde city is a breakthrough that Namal is trying to achieve.
Counties are built on knowledge cities. Knowledge city provides technical and intellectual base for a country to become a developed country.
To make this a success Aleema Khan is constantly in search of supporter’s world round.
Aleema`s comments about the entries were:
?This is the most difficult thing I have ever done, it was extremely difficult for me to choose the winners, each entry has a story to tell, I was very impressed with the amount of thought and determination that was put into the art work and the way in which their own feelings were linked to what others had said including some showing guns firing out books giving the message that ` Education is a powerful weapon that can change lives. `
I had a great pleasure and felt honoured to judge the amazing art work that will be part of next year’s calendar, I hope the children continue to build on their knowledge and to produce the best in everything they do."
-Aleema
We would like to thank everyone who took part in designing this calendar, especially our Judge who made this happen.
Bridging gaps fostering Agency, 2017
