An exhibition of the work of 65 school students, which opened at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) in Armidale last Friday evening, celebrates the artistic talents of young people throughout northern and north-western NSW.

“It’s very inspiring to see such active and interested young minds at work,” said the Director of NERAM, Caroline Downer, at the opening of the “Let’s Hang It!” exhibition, which includes works by students from as far afield as Tenterfield, Grafton and Camden Haven.

The 65 artists featured in “Let’s Hang It!” are the finalists in the University of New England Schools Acquisitive Art Prize (UNESAP) competition, which is now in its eighth year. This year’s competition attracted 660 entries from students of all ages – from kindergarten to Year 12 – at about 40 schools.

UNE is the major sponsor of the competition, which is also sponsored by NERAM and the art supply company S&S Creativity Unlimited. “This is a really important event in the calendar of the University,” said the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of UNE’s Faculty of The Professions, Professor Victor Minichiello, in officially opening the exhibition. While celebrating the collaborative efforts of UNE, NERAM, and school principals, teachers, parents and students, Professor Minichiello told the young artists that they were “the stars of the show”.

Ms Downer paid tribute to the work of UNE’s Dr Frances Alter, who has coordinated UNESAP from its foundation in 2004 until this year, when UNE handed over the management of the competition to NERAM. This year’s coordinator was Jennifer Butler, who said she had been impressed by the “fantastic range and quality” of the art works submitted.

The guest judge this year was Michelle Schouten, an artist working in the medium of glass who has had 22 years’ experience as a classroom teacher. Speaking to the competition finalists, she recommended the fulfilling life of an artist, saying: “If ever you have an opportunity to become an artist, grab it!”

Ms Schouten presented cash prizes ranging from $50 to $300 to the winners and runners-up in the four Divisions, and Suzanne Edwards from S&S Creativity Unlimited presented each of the four winners with a collection of art supplies.

The winner of the Infants Division of the competition was Jessica Deleiuen from Woodford Dale Public School (Grade 1) with a magical painting of a frog. The runner-up in the Infants Division was Piper Burke from South Grafton Public School (Kindergarten), with a whimsical work titled Pirate Dog. Sam Watson (Grade 4), who attends NERAM Art Classes, was the winner of the Primary School Division and Lily Keft-Gill from Tamworth Public School (Grade 6) was runner-up.

Junior Secondary Division: Keleni Grant (Year 8, Glen Innes High School) winner;  Faith Eadie (Armidale High School, Year 7) runner-up. Senior Secondary Division: Daniel Watts (Tenterfield High School, Year 12) winner; Sorcha Harrop (Armidale High School, Year 11/12) runner-up. Director’s Choice Award: Samuel Cooper (Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Year 8). People’s Choice Award: Jones Yue (The Armidale School, Year 11).

The “Let’s Hang It!” exhibition will continue at NERAM until the 14th of August.

THE PICTURE displayed here, titled Ashley, is Keleni Grant’s winning entry in the Junior Secondary Division.

A record number of artworks from primary and secondary students in northern NSW and from as far west as Menindee have been submitted for this year’s UNE School Acquisitive Art Prize (UNESAP).

Almost 600 works from 36 schools have been submitted, and UNESAP 2011 organiser Jennifer Butler says it is ‘marvellous’ to see the continuation and growth of what began as an initiative of the University’s School of Education.

‘Schools have submitted a wide range of works with an exciting mix of materials and media,’ Ms Butler said. ‘Children from kindergarten to year 12 have contributed, and the works display a wonderfully free and expressive approach to art making.

‘We have works from drawing and collage to crayons, painting, mosaic and photography,’ she added. ‘It is gratifying to see the response of schools to the encouragement of expression in art making, and fascinating to see the variety of perceptions which children in each age category see as art.’

With entries now closed, a team of selectors have sorted the works and selected for judging a range of about 60 in the four categories of infants, primary, junior secondary and senior secondary. This year’s guest judge, Michelle Schouten, is an artist working in the medium of glass and a classroom teacher with 22 years experience.

All finalists will be invited to attend the announcement of prizes and the ‘Let’s Hang It!’ exhibition opening night, to be held at the New England Regional Art Museum on Friday, July 22^nd, at 6pm. Cash prizes up to $300 for the senior secondary prize will be awarded, with the runner up in each category also receiving a prize.

Acknowledgment of support for this is due to S & S Creativity Ltd, who have contributed to the prize money each year. This year they will also be putting together art packs for the first prize winners to encourage further exploration of different materials.

The winning entries will be framed and become part of the permanent collection of artworks held by the University of New England and displayed on the University campus. The ‘Let’s Hang It’ exhibition featuring the winning artworks will be exhibited at NERAM until August 14^th.

The Faculty of The Professions at UNE has been training primary and secondary teachers to promote interest in the visual arts for many years and, in 2004, decided to support this further by establishing prizes and organising an annual exhibition of our most talented young artists’ work. With UNESAP, coordinated by Dr Frances Alter, now in its eighth year with a growing number of schools in regional NSW participating, UNE has handed over its management to the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM).