Young artists share their treasures

Liam Mason – S3, Madras College

A stained glass window showing the importance of friends, a treasure chest containing pictures of family members, and a clay representation of the skull of Pope Benedict XIII are among the winning entries to the year’s University of St Andrews Young Artist Awards.

The theme for this year’s competition was X Marks the Spot; encouraging competitors to celebrate the University’s 600th Anniversary and linking with the gold and silver treasures on display in the Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA) collections.  These objects then inspired the young artists to consider what they personally value, and to create art works based on the things they treasure.

Certificates and medals will be presented to 25 winners, ranging from age 2 to 13, across 6 competition categories at a ceremony in Parliament Hall at 5pm tonight (Thursday June 6, 2013), and the winning artworks will be exhibited at the University’s Gateway Galleries until August 10, 2013.

Now in its seventh year the competition, supported by the Fife Decorative and Fine Arts Society (DFAS), attracted a total of 417 entries and 714 pupils from schools across Fife took part in educational workshops with museum staff. The workshops explored how the treasures kept by the founders of the University communicate, through the ages, what was important to them.

The winners were selected by a panel of judges including Dr Julian Luxford (Senior Lecturer in the School of Art History), Alison Hadfield (MUSA’s Learning & Access Curator), and Susan Richmond and Elizabeth Black from the DFAS.

Entries were judged on originality and creativity, confident handling of materials, boldness and impact and an obvious link to the University collections.

The judges were impressed by the standard of all of the artworks and awarded Special Merits to 7 additional pupils.

Matt Sheard, Learning & Access Curator at the University and the organiser of this year’s competition, said:

“It has been absolutely fantastic to see children coming to MUSA and getting excited about the history that is told through the stunning objects and artworks that are on display here.

“We’re especially grateful to the Fife branch of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies, who have helped us to encourage creativity in young people by donating the medals, art materials and vouchers which winning pupils receive.”

Viktorija Doviltis – P7, St Leonards School

Notes to News Editors

The MUSA Young Artist Award is organised by the University of St Andrews Museum Collections Unit. It aims to use the historic collections in the care of the University of St Andrews to promote learning, inspiration and excellence in art and design.

The Gateway Galleries are open from 09.00-17.00 Monday to Friday and 10.00-16.00 on Saturdays.

Full details of the competition and competition winners.

Note to Picture Editors

Images of the winning entries are available for use by the Press Office – contact 01334 462530 or email [email protected].