Stage 2 and 3 students in primary schools and Stage 4, 5 and 6 students in secondary schools within the Cessnock Local Government Area are invited to participate in an art competition in conjunction with the River of Black Gold Festival.
The artwork might explore the social impact of coal on the social development of the region; it might relate to the notion of work or address environmental issues connected to mining and associated industries. It is recommended students do some preliminary research on both the industry including the physical process involved in traditional as well as contemporary mining practices, and the social impact of mining on the LGA. Inspiration might also be sought from the traditional music and poetry of the miners of the 19th and early 20th century.
Students should research artists investigating subjects such as industrialisation, social change or environmental issues.
Students should also consider the possible styles and types of media available to them for the project including new media such as video and sound; photography; the use of recycled materials as well as traditional media such as painting, drawing and sculptural approaches. Traditional craft processes such as textiles, carving in coal and other media should also be considered.
Works should be no more than two square metres in size for primary students and three square metres in size for secondary students.
Works should be submitted initially as an electronic image either by email to admin@crag.net.au with the title ‘Black Gold Art Competition’ in the subject line, or on disc or stick to
Cessnock Regional Art Gallery PO Box 211 Cessnock NSW 2325by Friday 22 July [Week 1 Term 3].
Should a school have a large number of works for submission, the Gallery Director will arrange to visit the school for preliminary judging.
Works may be submitted as an individual piece of work or as a group effort.
Works will be assessed and the artists chosen for exhibition will be contacted to arrange delivery by Friday 29th July 2011. Entries will form part of a display which will be mounted in a number of venues in the Cessnock and Kurri Kurri CBDs over the course of the festival.
First prize: $200
Second prize: $100
Third prize: $50
