A giant black grouse caused a flap at St Madoes Primary School on Thursday (11 September) when it arrived to help launch the 10th annual GWCT Schools Art Competition.
Aimed at encouraging school pupils throughout Perth & Kinross to research native wildlife while showing off artistic skill, the competition has grown considerably since its inception and in 2013 included secondary pupils for the first time in the initiative.
The competition itself invites school-aged children in the region to create a piece of art depicting a game species from the British Isles in any medium they choose. The St Madoes pupils took a bird’s eye view this morning as they started work on their artistic entries.
Prizes are generously donated by LivingWell at Hilton Dunkeld House and local sculptor Julian Jardine and the competition is supported by Perth & Kinross Council’s Education and Children’s Services.
With a prize-giving and exhibition to be held later in the year at the AK Bell library, organiser Katrina Candy (head of PR & Education with the GWCT) is hoping for another positive response to the challenge:
“We are always amazed by the quality and quantity of entries we receive for this competition and delighted at the variety of styles and mediums used. The subject matter of game species seems to really capture the imagination of the area’s young artists and hopefully sparks an interest in our magnificent natural heritage.
“The superb prizes donated by our sponsors makes this a competition really worth entering.”
The Michael Wolfe-Murray perpetual trophy will be presented to the overall winner of the primary school category while secondary pupils can vie for the GWCT Art Award. Both winners will also claim a day of activities at Hilton Dunkeld House for their whole class and a place on a Julian Jardine art course. Prizes are also presented to runners-up and commended artists in the various age categories.
Notes to editors
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is an independent wildlife conservation charity which carries out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.
For information, contact:
Playfair Walker
Telephone: 0131 445 5570
Email: richard@playfairwalker.com