The Youlou Arts Foundation has launched its first ever visual arts competition for secondary school students between the ages of 12 and 16 years.

The art competition is sponsored by the St. Vincent Co-operative Bank Ltd., St. Hill Insurance and the Theo Saunders Shop, a release from the Foundation states.

“Caribbean Cultural Patterns” is the theme for the competition and winners will be awarded cash prizes.

The first prize winner will receive $500, second prize $400, third prize $300 and two honourable mentions prizes of $100 each.

Attention will be paid to the following criteria: creativity, interpretation of the theme, originality and proper use of medium. Paintings should be no more than 11” x 15”.

Interested, eligible students are asked to inform their art teacher of their desire to enter the competition and they must be registered with their school’s art teacher.

The deadline for submission is May 12, 2024 and the art work must be handed in to the art teacher.

The winners will be announced and receive their prize money in September, and work from the competition will be featured at the Youlou Art Gallery during the months of October and November.

By organizing an art competition for secondary school students, the Youlou Arts Foundation states that it is helping to nurture the creative spirit in children. The competition therefore aims to empower children to create, and to feel free to pursue artistic freedom.

The Foundation further states that fostering artistic possibilities at an early age is very important and it is the mission of Youlou Arts Foundation to bring attention to the visual arts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; art must be a part of the fabric of society.