Junior painters have eyes on the prize

CLARE’S junior painters are invited to express their talent through paint for the Sightsavers’ Junior Painter Awards, which was launched this week. 
The competition is designed to inspire Irish children to express their artistic talent, while developing an appreciation of the importance and value of sight in a fun and interactive way.
The competition has grown over the last four years and the 2012 competition recognises the difficulties schools are finding themselves in due to cutbacks and this year, Sightsavers will have cash prizes for the overall winning schools.
Open to primary school students of all ages, this year’s theme, ‘i: dream’, invites each budding artist to create a vision of how they would like to see the world. Children will also learn about Sightsavers’ work to eradicate preventable and treatable blindness in the developing world through simple and cost-effective measures.
Every child that enters the awards will be given a certificate of participation.
There are five competition categories: junior and senior infants, first and second classes; third and fourth classes; fifth and sixth classes and a special needs category. A total of 15 regional winners will be selected and will have the opportunity to see their work displayed at a special awards day in February 2013. The regional winners are then in the running to be awarded the top prize of overall national winner, runner-up and third place.
The closing date for entries is Friday, November 30 and entry packs are being sent out to schools nationwide. Parents and children can get involved by speaking to their school teacher or by contacting Sightsavers Ireland on www.sightsavers.ie/juniorpainter.