Thursday 23rd October 2008

NORTHERN IRELAND STUDENTS FEATURE PROMINENTLY IN TEXACO CHILDREN’S ART EXHIBITION BEING HELD AT WATERFRONT HALL

BELFAST  23 October 2008 - The artistic talents of young Northern Ireland students are on show at an exhibition of the 161 winning entries in the 54th Texaco Children’s Art Competition now taking place in Gallery 2 at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

Hosted by the Ulster Museum, the exhibition will run until Tuesday 18 November from 10am - 5pm each day. 

Featured in the exhibition are works by students from26 of the 32 Irish counties including ten winning entries from Antrim, six from Down, three from Tyrone, two from Armagh and one from Derry.

Leading the line-up of Northern Ireland winners whose works feature prominently are 13-year old Lara Darby from Seacourt Print Workshop, Bangor for her study with the cryptic title 'Doctor ?', 13-year old Daniel Crilly from St. Malachy's College, Antrim Road, Belfast for his painting also entitled ‘Self Portrait’ and 6-year old Down student Colleen Clarke for her entry entitled 'Waterfall River'.

A highlight of the official opening was the unveiling of the UTV Young Artist Commission which is presented each year to the overall winner. This year the €1,500 award was presented to 17-year old Co. Clare student, Lucy Carragher.

A pupil at St. Anne's Community College, Killaloe, Lucy won her prize for a painting entitled 'Self Portrait'.  An extremely talented young artist whose work has featured prominently in previous competitions, Lucy recently visited Japan where her winning painting was displayed alongside works by some 300 students from Japan and other countries around the world at an exhibition hosted by Japan's International Federation for Arts and Culture in the prestigious Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo.

Speaking at the event,  Enda Riney, Country Chairman for Chevron, owner of the Texaco brand, thanked the Ulster Museum for their continued support of the Competition and for their input in bringing the exhibition to Belfast.

            Thanking the management of Waterfront Hall for agreeing to host the exhibition, he praised the success being achieved by students from Northern Ireland whose works have ‘helped form the back bone of the Competition since it began 55 years ago, 

‘The presence of the exhibition in Belfast will give students the chance to see their works displayed alongside other winning entries from around the country’ Mr. Riney said. ‘Remembering that, in 2005, the top prize was won by a student from Northern Ireland, it is hoped that the exhibition will encourage more young people to participate and, by so doing, bring further success to the province in future years’

Note: Waterfront opening hours may vary and visitors are advised to phone in advance to confirm opening times.

-ENDS-