NSW Youth Week ‘Creative Arts Competition’ still open

In line with the NSW Youth Week, The Hills Shire Council is still accepting entries for the “Creative Arts Competition” as a way for young Hills Shire locals to showcase their creative skills.

Young artists aged 12 to 24 years old, residing, working or studying within the Hills Shire can join the art competition to demonstrate their art abilities and win major prizes. It will also be included at one of the LGA’s largest Youth Week events this year, The Hills Youth Festival, on Thursday, 18 April.

All entries will be reviewed by a panel of esteemed critics, including the Mayor of the Hills Shire Council, Dr Peter Gangemi. Submissions will be open only until Thursday, 4 April 2024. As of writing, the Council has yet to announce the prizes. 

“Connection and Identity” is the competition’s theme. The Council mentioned how interested artists can interpret the theme: ‘Participants are encouraged to interpret this theme through their very own experience of living, working or studying in The Hills.’

The artworks need to follow specific criteria:

• • • The artwork follows the theme of ‘Connection and Identity.’
    • The dimensions of the artwork are no larger than 43cm (W), 29cm (D) and 20cm (H)
    • The artwork is able to sit flat on a table OR upright with no additional support.
    • The artwork can be vertical or horizontal.
    • The artwork must be unmounted and unframed.
    • Any art materials may be used (paint, pencils, pastels, paper collages)
    • The artwork must be able to be delivered to staff of The Hills Shire Council should it be selected to be included in the final exhibition.

To learn more information about the competition, visit the Council’s website: Creative Arts Competition (Youth Week 2024). 

Dr Peter Gangemi mentioned that the Council wants to connect and nurture an engaged youth in the Hills: “We have many talented young artists, and this is a fantastic way to showcase their creativity to a broader audience while also celebrating the contributions of young people to our community.”

“We have some great prizes up for grabs, and I encourage all aspiring artists or young people with a creative flair to submit their artwork for their chance to win.”

The weeklong celebration in NSW will run from 11 to 21 April.

The theme for this year’s Youth Week is “Express. Empower. Get Loud!” According to the NSW Youth Advisory Council, the upcoming week is the perfect time for the youth to demonstrate their abilities, express their thoughts and involve themselves with the community and the state.

“Youth Week is a chance for every young person from NSW to be themselves! It gives young people the opportunity to showcase their talents, get involved and celebrate where they are from, their culture, their sexuality, gender and identity,” the NSW Youth Advisory Council said. 

The Youth Week Coordinator and the NSW Youth Week Committee manage the event at a state level, while the 12-member NSW Youth Advisory Council decide this year’s theme.

The event is organised by local councils, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, the NSW Department of Customer Service, and the Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People. The Australian Government, state and territory governments, and local governments also support the NSW Youth Week.