Issued April 2004

50TH TEXACO CHILDREN'S ART COMPETITION - OVERVIEW FROM FINAL ADJUDICATOR, MR. DECLAN MCGONAGLE, ROYAL HIBERNIAN ACADEMY GALLAGHER GALLERY, FRIDAY, 2 APRIL 2004.

Once again Texaco has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to children's art in this, the 50th year of the Children's Art Competition. Over the years the project has supported tens of thousands of children in their creativity. Many artists, and others, who are now well known in Ireland, won awards and prizes in the Competition in the past.

Each year of my involvement I have seen the standard of work improve and the range of skills, techniques and ideas broaden. I always find it very interesting to see how the exuberance of the work produced by younger children, like the colourful painting of a cheetah by Emer Mc Mahon or the very dramatic collage work of a marmalade cat by Cian Coleman, gradually changes into the more disciplined and technically skilful approach by the older age groups, as in Conor O' Shea's detailed pencil drawing of his granny or Rachel Owen's self portrait in chalks. There were actually a lot more portraits this year, especially in the older age groups.

The children and young people use the art process in very different ways and, as adjudicator, I always try to reward creativity and individuality, either in terms of subject, treatment and technique or use of materials. The levels of skills are increasing because there are more and more opportunities for children and young people to experience and to make art, in school and outside of school. I believe this is very important and teachers and parents who provide these opportunities have to be congratulated also.

Many entrants, winners or not, go on to study art at third level as a direct result of being involved in this process. The skills and creativity evident in Niamh Fanning's pastel of a father and child - the overall winner in the senior category - or Edgar Grunewald's crayon drawing of the Halfpenny Bridge could easily take them on to greater things in art.

This process, so well supported by Texaco, is a great encouragement to parents, teachers and schools to continue to support children and young people to make art, to express the creativity which, I believe, everyone has. People just need the opportunity and Texaco provides that opportunity.

The company, its Chairman and staff, have to be congratulated for maintaining and celebrating this commitment over fifty years.

Declan Mc Gonagle
Director, City Arts Centre, Dublin
Chair of Art and Design, University of Ulster, Belfast.