The IE-NO-HIKARI Association in Japan is currently organising the 19th Annual World Children’s Picture Contest. This competition has been held every year since 1993 with the aim of creating friendship among children all over the world and to promote the development of their different personalities. Prospective participants in this year’s contest are being invited to compose their pictures upon one of the following themes: ‘agriculture,’ ‘farming area,’ ‘nature,’ ‘environment,’ ‘people,’ ‘family’ and ‘cooperation.’
The organisers will shortlist the best one hundred and twenty pictures from all the submissions received, from which twenty young people will be awarded a Gold Prize, forty young people will be awarded a Silver Prize and sixty young people will be awarded a Bronze Prize. All awardees will receive a certificate of merit as well as a commemorative gift. Eighty young people will be chosen for an Honourable Mention. For this year’s edition, a ‘Memorial Prize of the International Year of Co-operatives (IYC)’ will be awarded to 20 participants whose artwork is on the theme of cooperation. The authors of the one hundred and twenty artworks shortlisted will also receive a certificate of merit, whilst some drawings may also be used for promotional material in Japan. In last year’s edition, Alessia Formosa, a 12 year old Maltese girl received an Honourable Mention for her picture entitled ‘Wild Deers.’
The competition is open to all children between the ages of 6 and 15 from all over the world. Each participant may not submit more than one picture, and each picture must be the work of one young artist only. Any materials may be used in creating the artwork. The picture should not be larger than 728mm by 515mm and should not be thicker than 3mm. A comprehensive list of specifications for submitting a picture can be found on the website of the Commissioner for Children www.tfal.org.mt [1]. For further information, please email Ms Suzanne Gili suzanne.gili@gov.mt [2] or call on 21485180.
All young people who are interested in participating in this international contest are required to submit their drawings to the Office of the Commissioner for Children, 469, St. Joseph High Road St. Venera, SVR 1012 by the 5th of September. The artworks will then be sent to the organisers in Japan. All pictures should include the title of the picture as well as the participant’s name, age, address, contact telephone number and date of birth written on a separate sheet of paper.
Results of the contest will be announced towards the end of January 2012.