Rye Art Gallery enjoyed hosting a excited crowd of teachers, parents and children on Saturday November 3 to attend the 2018 Stormont Award prize giving ceremony and the opening of the exhibition.
This years “Jungle” theme saw 150 works across three age groups submitted from the six local participating schools, Beckley primary, Rye primary, St Michael’s Playden, Peasmarsh primary, Northiam primary and Rye College. All 150 works are now beautifully displayed upstairs in Gallery 6.
The winners, runners up and winning schools received tremendous prizes enabling them invest in quality art materials and highly commended works were also given art prizes. Nick Moon, at Artwrite selected one work for this year’s Artwrite Prize.
The Stormont Awards, set up by the Rye Art Gallery Trust in
2017, were in response to a growing concern that children are experiencing less creative and art time within the constraints of today’s school curriculum. The Trust hopes the scheme will offer opportunities for the children to visit the gallery to see shows, attend workshops and explore more of the Trust’s permanent collection of more than 500 works. Kate Van Der Pump, Trustee and former art teacher, believes that offering practical resources with easy schools access will benefit everyone. “We have a commitment in our deed to provide an artistic hub in Rye for both practising artists and for the education of art, the Stormont Awards wonderfully fulfill that brief”.
Richard Adams, a local celebrated artist, who kindly presented the prizes, made a valid point. “Don’t dismiss a career in art, it is possible and it can be incredibly rewarding doing something you love all day and looking forward to work the next day!”
The Stormont Awards scheme, with the continued support of Kate Sims and the Rye Community Shop, will be taken further but in the meantime, please visit the Rye Art Gallery to see the colourful and uplifting exhibition.
Image Credits: Kenneth Bird , Susan Benn .