Bringing environmental issues into focus
Key issues impacting on the environment are being creatively brought to life as Warwickshire residents start to submit entries to a new competition.
To try and raise awareness of the many subjects impacting on us locally, nationally and as a planet, an Environmental Art Challenge has been launched in Warwickshire.
The competition, organised by Warwickshire County Council, is asking the county’s unsung artists to submit an A4 sized piece of work in any medium – drawing, pastel, collage, painting, and photography – looking at causes, consequences and solutions to the environmental challenges we face.
Travel, energy use and waste are among the issues that organisers are hoping that artists will tackle.
And as well as pride in winning the top spot, winners will be able to choose from a host of prizes including a Nintendo Wii, bike or a Watson electricity meter for the first prize and many more for runners up.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “We want to see as many people as possible sending in their perspectives on the environment. If people do not feel they have the creative skills to get painting, it might be they have captured a great photo which demonstrate one of the environmental challenges we face.”
Emma Clarke, climate change partnership officer, said: “The best way to start to tackle the effects that we are having on the environment is to raise awareness and get people thinking of what we do that harms the environment, what the consequences of this action is and what we can do to begin to put it right. This competition is a way to encourage the artists and the people in their communities who will see their work to think about the environment and we look forward to seeing people’s work.”
The competition is open to all Warwickshire residents aged 16 and over. Work should be submitted to address no later than 2nd June. It will be displayed during the summer at Shire Hall and, later in the year, at Stratford Gallery.
All entrants should be aged 16 years or more and should send their A4 artwork to Emma Clarke, Warwickshire County Council, Sustainability Unit, PO Box 43, Shire Hall, Warwick, CV34 4SX
More information can be found at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/environmentalartchallenge
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For more information contact Emma Clarke on 01926 418036.
A photo showing Emma Clarke preparing to sketch the effects of plastic carrier bags is available by contacting Jack Linstead on 01926 476643.