Issued 24th October 2006

WATERFRONT HALL VENUE FOR TEXACO CHILDREN'S ART EXHIBITION - BEING HELD AS PART OF BELFAST FESTIVAL AT QUEEN'S

An exhibition organised by the Ulster Museum of the 161 prize-winning works from the 52nd Texaco Children's Art Competition takes place at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast beginning Tuesday, 24th October and continuing until 16th November next.

This is the tenth year that the Ulster Museum has been involved with the exhibition and the first occasion on which it has formed part of the Belfast Festival at Queen's programme. It will be officially opened by Australian-born illustrator and painter and University of Ulster graduate Oliver Jeffers.

Present at the official opening, which takes place at 12.00 noon on Tuesday, 24th October, will be Texaco Country Chairman, Declan McAndrew accompanied by members of the Texaco organisation.

The Texaco Children¹s Art Competition attracts some 30, 000 entries annually from children ranging in age from 4 to 18 years, a significant number of whom come from Northern Ireland.

Prominent amongst those from Northern Ireland whose works will feature in the exhibition are Allannah Hoppner, Ulidia Integrated College, Carrickfergus (1st Category C), Ricky Gibson, Jordanstown (1st Special Needs) and Justin McKenna, Christian Brothers School, Omagh (3rd Category A), a school that regularly features amongst the prize-winners.

It is expected that the exhibition will attract many prize-winners and their families from the Republic of Ireland who will travel to Belfast to view their works on display.

ENDS