Conditions of the 20th International Contest of Art and Graphics “In My Homeland”

Green Cross Belarus with support of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus and in association with Art Teachers' Union announces the 20th International Contest of Art and Graphics «In My Homeland».

Topics of the Contest:

• In My Homeland – traditional free theme
• My Window - additional theme

The works sent to the contest are expected to depict the real world around you. We hope the theme «My Window» will help us to get to know you better.

What is the world that you see out of your window like? How does it change depending on the time of day or season? What does it look like from the inside? And from the outside? Does it change depending on your mood, perhaps?

A window has been the focal point of paintings by many famous artists. Feel free to see their works and compare your window with the images created by various painters in various periods.

This theme is supplemented by an additional nomination: a series of «My Window» sketches, which should consist of three A4 works attached to a common basis.

Although in English the word ‘sketch’ originally meant a study for a future work of art, recently it has been used to apply to self-sufficient works that render initial impressions in all their spontaneity and express certain thoughts and ideas.

While creating a series of sketches about your window you are likely to notice and depict the volatility of the world around you, to see new things that never used to catch your eye.

Suggested techniques (optional):

These works will be considered by the jury in separate nominations!

Contemporary art is dynamic - artists incessantly come up with new drawing techniques that help them to better reflect the world around us and their attitude to it.

We suggest our contest applicants try their hand at collage (a video analyzing collages submitted to the previous year's contest is available on GCB website), as well as remember the somewhat neglected technique of lead or color pencil drawing.

• Collage (participants' age from 10 to 18 y.o.)

Conventionality! Symbolism! Generalization! Experiment! Collage presents a new way of depicting both familiar themes and new ones as well as of expressing our emotional attitude to the things we depict.

By the way, the name collage originates from the French word meaning TO GLUE. There are a few different forms of collage – paper, magazine, art and even floral. This technique allows gluing, layering and combining totally different elements as long as it agrees with the author's concept.

When one starts a collage, the result is impossible to predict. How will fragments of color paper, cardboard and newspaper come together in each particular project? This is an amazing opportunity for experiment. There is no answer or prearranged solution!

• Pencil drawing technique

This technique is not particularly popular with young artists probably due to its association with tedious hours of sketching in the classroom. By creating a separate nomination for this technique we would like to emphasize its potential. It is not only the general color scheme of your drawing but also a variety of stroke methods that can enhance the expressive impact of your work even if it has been created with an ordinary lead pencil.

Using color pencils/crayons can be exciting, too! For instance, you can mix colors by covering one layer with another or by interspersing strokes of different colors. What is more, the untouched areas of the paper you use might become an element of your composition.

Tip: take your time to study works by famous graphic illustrators in order to know more about/master the pencil drawing technique.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Applicants should be between 5 and 18 years of age. Works in collage technique are considered from the age of 10.
2. Artwork should be creative, original and performed entirely by its author in the current year. An expressive title for the work or series is encouraged and will be taken into account when considering the work.
   NB. ALL ARTWORKS WILL BE CHECKED FOR PLAGIARISM.
3. Artwork dimensions are at the author's discretion, no framing. A series of «My Window» sketches should consist of three A4 works attached to a common basis. Please attach a registration form filled in with block letters to the back.

Download the form

1. No works will be reviewed by the jury or returned to their authors. The contest organizers reserve the right to use the originals and copies of the artworks to popularize and promote the contest as well as for their educational and charitable activities without asking for the author's consent or paying the author's fee.

APPLICATIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2024.

WORKS are to BE MAILED TO THE FOLLOWING POSTAL ADDRESS:

Non-governmental Organization «Green Cross Belarus»

Contest «In My Homeland»

222201, Minsk oblast, Smolevichi, the Republic of Belarus

(The provided postal address is complete. The works will be picked up directly from the post office by the organizers.)

We ask all the participants to use the services of REGULAR or EMS post. DO NOT INDICATE the value (price) of the goods on parcels.

RESULTS OF THE CONTEST:

The jury will consider all applications in February 2025 and name winners / diploma recipients in all nominations. The awarded works will be used to compile an exhibition.

The 20th INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF ART AND GRAPHICS «IN MY HOMELAND» is to be opened in April 2025.

In addition, the awarded works will be available for online viewing at www.children-art.org, the official website of IN MY HOMELAND project.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

(+375 17) 392 88 02, (+375 29) 667 57 80
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , www.children-art.org