Funding for young artists award

The MUSA Young Artist Award was last night gifted a £855 funding injection by the Fife branch of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Society (NADFAS) – to support creative engagement as part of the University’s programme of 600th anniversary celebrations.

A cheque was formally presented by Doreen Blanche, Chairperson of the Fife branch of NADFAS, to the MUSA Young Artist Award organisers at this year’s Awards Ceremony in Parliament Hall, St Andrews.

The event, attended by over 100 young artists and family members, marked the culmination of this year’s Young Artists challenge, which asked children to explore the theme of ‘Fantastic Creatures’. The University’s Edwardian natural history collection, housed in the Bell Pettigrew Museum, provided the source of inspiration.

Now in its sixth year, the creative collaboration between the University of St Andrews’ Museum (MUSA) and local schools attracted 682 entries (up from 421 last year) from pupils across Fife. This makes the 2012 Award the most popular year, with a 62 per cent increase in artworks created.

The aim is to increase participation even further in 2013, adding a strong vein of creative, community involvement to the finale year of the University’s 600th Anniversary, with the help of the NADFAS funding.

Doreen Blanche the Chairperson of the Fife branch of NADFAS said:

“As one of its objectives, the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (or NADFAS) aims to inspire young people with a lasting enthusiasm for the arts and an awareness of our arts heritage and conservation. These values are also at the heart of the MUSA Young Artist Award and the Fife branch of NADFAS is delighted to support the 2013 competition and have its name associated with the University in this, its 600th year.”

Professor Nic Beech, Dean of Arts said:

“We are very grateful for this gift, which as you have seen, will directly benefit pupils of all ages, across Fife. We are looking forward to working with you over the University’s anniversary period to take the MUSA Young Artist Award forward and build upon the success it has already achieved. At last night’s awards ceremony Dr Martin Milner, one of the judges for this year’s awards, presented 30 prizes to young artists across six categories: Nurseries, Primary 1 to Primary 3, Primary 4 to Primary 5, Primary 6 to Primary 7, S1 to S3, and Special Education Schools/Units.

The prizes for winners in the Nurseries – P3 categories are a MUSA Young Artist Medal and selection of art materials.

The prizes for winners in the P4 – S3 and Special Education Schools categories are:

• 1st place: MUSA Young Artist Medal and £40 token for art materials
• 2nd place: MUSA Young Artist Medal and £25 token for art materials
• 3rd place: MUSA Young Artist Medal and £10 token for art materials

For full details of the competition and competition winners go to: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/museum/art-competition/

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

Winning entries are on display in the University of St Andrews’ Gateway Galleries until August 25, 2012.

The Gateway Galleries are open from 09.00-17.00 Monday to Friday and 12.00-16.00 on Saturdays.